Austėja Bernotaitė¹

¹Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Academy of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Kaunas, Lithuania

Abstract

Anaphylactic shock is a life-threatening state, caused by severe rapidly progressing allergic reaction, which disturbs two or more organ systems. One of the systems that is disturbed during anaphylactic shock is cardiovascular system and it results in acute circulatory dysfunction which causes hypotension and hypoxia of tissues and organs. This state is life-threatening because it can cause end-organ dysfunction. Anaphylactic shock is urgent state that needs quick, appropriate management, so that is why it is important to know its diagnostic and treatment guidelines. Aim: to analyse literature and present most important anaphylactic shock diagnostic and management guidelines. Method: literature analysis was done using “PubMed’’ and “UpToDate” to search and investigate articles about anaphylactic shock, its diagnosis and treatment. Conclusions: after conducting literature analysis, there is stated the pathophysiology, diagnostic and management procedures regarding anaphylactic shock.
Keywords: anaphylactic shock, shock, diagnosis of anaphylaxis, management of anaphylactic shock, pathophysiology of anaphylactic shock.