In a trauma patient with hypotension, tachycardia, and absent radial pulses, which type of shock is least likely to be the cause?

• A. Hypovolemic
• B. Obstructive
• C. Neurogenic
• D. Cardiogenic

Answer: (C)

The main idea is how different types of shock change heart rate and blood flow in a trauma patient. Tachycardia with hypotension and absent radial pulses suggests the body is trying to maintain forward flow despite reduced circulating volume or output, which fits hypovolemic, obstructive, or cardiogenic shock after injury. Neurogenic shock, on the other hand, comes from loss of sympathetic tone after spinal injury, leading to widespread vasodilation and typically a slower heart rate (bradycardia) rather than tachycardia. That mismatch between a high heart rate and the expected heart rate pattern in neurogenic shock makes it the least likely cause here.

So, the observed tachycardia aligns with hypovolemic (due to blood loss), obstructive (for example, from tamponade or tension physiology), or cardiogenic (pump failure) shock, whereas neurogenic shock would more often show bradycardia and warm, flushed skin due to vasodilation.