Which statement about septic shock is true?

Which statement about septic shock is true?

• A. In septic shock, skin is cool and pale early on.
• B. In septic shock, skin is warm and flushed early on.
• C. Septic shock never causes hypotension.
• D. Septic shock is not a distributive shock.

Answer: (B)

In septic shock, the body's inflammatory response causes widespread vasodilation and increased capillary permeability. This leads to a high cardiac output and low systemic vascular resistance in the early phase, so the skin becomes warm and flushed as blood flow is directed to the skin. That warmth and flushing reflect the distributive nature of the shock, where blood is maldistributed rather than simply reduced in volume or pumped poorly. As perfusion worsens, patients can progress to cool, clammy skin, but the initial presentation is typically warm and flushed. The statement that skin is warm and flushed early on is therefore true, while the other statements describe scenarios more characteristic of other types of shock or exclude a hallmark feature of septic shock.

In septic shock, the body's inflammatory response causes widespread vasodilation and increased capillary permeability. This leads to a high cardiac output and low systemic vascular resistance in the early phase, so the skin becomes warm and flushed as blood flow is directed to the skin. That warmth and flushing reflect the distributive nature of the shock, where blood is maldistributed rather than simply reduced in volume or pumped poorly. As perfusion worsens, patients can progress to cool, clammy skin, but the initial presentation is typically warm and flushed. The statement that skin is warm and flushed early on is therefore true, while the other statements describe scenarios more characteristic of other types of shock or exclude a hallmark feature of septic shock.