This type of shock is caused by a pump problem due to mechanical obstruction of the heart muscle.

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

Answer: (C)

Obstructive shock is about a physical blockage that prevents blood from flowing properly, creating a pump problem because the heart can’t eject blood effectively. When something mechanically obstructs the heart’s outflow or filling—such as a tamponade compressing the heart, a tension pneumothorax squeezing the mediastinum, or a massive pulmonary embolism blocking the pulmonary circulation—the heart’s pumping is impeded. That’s why this scenario fits obstructive shock: the issue isn’t the heart muscle’s strength alone, but a mechanical obstacle that reduces cardiac output.

In contrast, cardiogenic shock comes from the heart muscle itself failing to pump well, hypovolemic shock from too little circulating blood volume, and neurogenic shock from loss of vascular tone. Therefore, the obstructive mechanism best matches the described pump problem caused by a mechanical obstruction.