Hypovolemic shock is a medical emergency condition that occurs when there is a severe loss of blood or other fluids in the body, making the heart unable to pump enough blood to the body. This type of shock can cause many organs to stop working, leading to organ failure and even death. The causes of hypovolemic shock include losing about one fifth or more of the normal amount of blood in the body due to bleeding from cuts, bleeding from other injuries, internal bleeding, or losing too much body fluid from other causes such as burns, diarrhea, excessive perspiration, or vomiting.

Symptoms of hypovolemic shock may include anxiety or agitation, thirst, muscle cramps, decrease in blood pressure, or poor blood supply throughout the body, pain in the abdomen or chest, confusion, agitation, or lethargy (drowsiness), which occur due to decreased blood flow to the brain. The severity of the symptoms depends on the degree of shock, and people with milder degrees of shock tend to do better than those with more severe shock.

Complications of hypovolemic shock may include kidney damage, brain damage, gangrene of arms or legs, heart attack, other organ damage, and death. Older adults are more likely to have poor outcomes from shock.

Hypovolemic shock is a medical emergency, and prompt treatment increases the chance of survival. The first step in management is to rule out other forms of shock, which will dictate treatment. Treatment may include stopping the bleeding or fluid loss, replacing lost fluids and blood, and treating the underlying cause of the shock.

Preventing shock is easier than trying to treat it once it happens, and quickly treating the cause will reduce the risk of hypovolemic shock. If someone experiences symptoms of hypovolemic shock, it is important to call the local emergency number (such as 911) or take the person to the emergency room immediately.