What kind of shock occurs due to a physical obstruction of blood flow?

Obstructive shock occurs as a result of a physical obstruction in the circulatory system that impedes blood flow. This situation can arise from conditions like pulmonary embolism, where a blood clot blocks blood flow to the lungs, or cardiac tamponade, where fluid accumulation in the pericardial sac restricts the heart's ability to pump effectively.

In obstructive shock, the body is unable to maintain adequate blood flow and perfusion to vital organs, as the obstruction hinders the normal circulation of blood. This type of shock differs from hypovolemic shock, which is due to a significant loss of blood volume, cardiogenic shock, which results from the heart's inability to pump effectively, and distributive shock, where widespread vasodilation causes inadequate blood flow despite adequate volume. Each of these types of shock reflects a different underlying physiology or mechanism affecting circulation, highlighting why obstructive shock is specifically related to a physical blockage in blood flow.