Shock is the most frequent hemodynamic emergency in clinical practice, and patients’ lives depend on its timely and adequate management; consequently, it is of outmost importance that physicians should know every basic aspect with respect to the initial management of shock and learn how to use both mechanic and electronic monitoring devices. A brief overview of these topics is presented and we review guidelines related to diagnosis, therapy, and monitoring patients in hemodynamic shock.

Shock is the most frequent hemodynamic emergency in clinical practice, and patients’ lives depend on its timely and adequate management; consequently, it is of outmost importance that physicians should know every basic aspect with respect to the initial management of shock and learn how to use both mechanic and electronic monitoring devices. A brief overview of these topics is presented and we review guidelines related to diagnosis, therapy, and monitoring patients in hemodynamic shock.