Although widely used among physicians and frequently present in the literature, the words “stable” and “unstable” to describe cardiovascular dynamics in critically ill patients can have different meanings to different people and in different situations, making them confusing word choices that should be avoided.

We must be careful and precise with our choice of words to colleagues, patients, and families and avoid vague terms that could be misinterpreted.

The word “stable” should not be used to describe a condition that remains critical, and “hemodynamic instability” should be described using objective criteria such as blood pressure, cardiac output, or vasopressor dose.

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