[The significance of shock mechanisms for the alcohol opinion (author's transl)].

The alcohol level interpretation on shocked persons concerns almost exclusively cases with hypovolemic shock. For that reason the mechanisms of shock are explained mainly in relation to hemorrhagic shock. With regard to the blood alcohol curve in shock the following points are to be noted: (1) the centralization of the circulation in shock; (2) the alterations of the conditions for the alcohol absorption during the shock; (3) the fact that the liver is a so-called shock organ; and (4) the hemodilution in shock. In a given case besides individual factors the alcoholizing phase at the beginning of the shock and the severity of the shock are the most important circumstances. In severe shock there is the possibility for a temporary considerable decrease and for a long-term plateau of the blood alcohol curve.