Diagnosis of Shock States

Abstract

Shock is a common and deadly illness with a dynamic course over time. Echocardiography is an essential diagnostic tool in the management of shock. Each phase of shock management requires a specific approach with different echocardiographic goals. The initial goal of echocardiography is to diagnose the cause of shock, followed by treatment optimization, stabilization, and deescalation. The initial examination is rapid and based on the recognition of patterns (low mean systemic pressure, left and right heart failure, tamponade, and catastrophic valve failure) using a qualitative 2-dimensional examination with selected Doppler techniques. Subsequent examinations are often more detailed, semiquantitative, and quantitative.