MY PATIENT IS IN SHOCK…
NOW WHAT?
Chris Nickson FACEM FCICM
Intensivist, The Alfred ICU
Financial
Conflicts of InterestNO!
http://litfl.org/CONCEPTOS
OVERVIEW
Resuscitation
Seek & treat the cause!
Fluid therapy
Vasoactive agents!
Hemodynamic targets
Refractory Shock!
RESUSCITATION

(NOW WHAT?)
Shock is a state of !
circulatory failure – !
tissue perfusion is inadequate !
to meet the needs of the body!
Early recognition
is vital!
Shock is not a diagnosis – !
seek and treat the !
underlying cause!
Requires a coordinated !
team-based approach !
with simultaneous !
assessment and management!
SEEK & TREAT THE CAUSE

(NOW WHAT?)
SHOCKCAUSES
Pump
Rate / rhythm
Obstructive
Volume
Endocrine
Distributive
? (is there an error?)
Focused Assessment
!
History!
Examination!
Investigations!
Ultrasound
is!
Awesome!!
Courtesy of @emresus (Sam Ghali)!
SHOCKCAUSES
Pump
Rate / rhythm
Obstructive
Volume
Endocrine
Distributive
? (is there an error?)
FLUID THERAPY

(NOW WHAT?)
“You can
resuscitate a
patient with
sterile dog piss if
you want – just
give the right
amount of it!”!
Sir Malcolm Fisher!
Use crystalloids and !
do not give “too much”!
Bolus and reassess…!
usually up to about !
mL/kg20mL/kg!
Levitov and Marik (2012) PMC3171766!
Fluid responsiveness 

does not mean you 

should give fluid!
Give blood !
if bleeding or significantly
anaemic
VASOACTIVE AGENTS

(NOW WHAT?)
Start early using !
peripheral IV access!
Norepinephrine is first line
vasoactive agent for
undifferentiated shock!
(usually)!
HAEMODYNAMIC TARGETS

(NOW WHAT?)
MAP (mmHg)
65
Individualise targets

according to !
the patient, the context!
and the phase of illness!
Frequent assessment !
of the whole patient is !
more important than an!
invasive monitor
Other targets are !
important too!!
!
SaO2 PaCO2 pH glucose!
Lactate ScvO2!
REFRACTORY SHOCK

(NOW WHAT?)
Reassess frequently !
and consider the !
underlying cause(s) !
(PROVED?)!
Use Occam’s Razor 

but remember!
Hickam’s Dictum!!!!
“Let no one die without a !
trial of steroids”!
!
Hydrocortisone 50mg q6h!
Add vasoactive agents !
and consider !
circulatory assist devices
SUMMARY
Resuscitation
Seek & treat the cause!
Fluid therapy
Vasoactive agents!
Hemodynamic targets
Refractory shock!
http://litfl.org/CONCEPTOS

Shock... Now What?