The main goal of hemodynamic resuscitation in shock is to improve tissue perfusion and oxygenation. As these cannot be directly evaluated at bedside in routine practice, physicians are left with surrogates such as perfusion pressure, cardiac output, mixed-venous oxygen saturation (SvO2), central venous oxygen saturation (ScVO2), veno-arterial difference in PCO2 (PvaCO2), cardiac output, diuresis, lactate, and skin mottling. As none of these can be considered ideal and as no single target value can be identified for all patients, the management of the patients with septic shock patient should be individualized taking into consideration several indices of tissue hypoperfusion. While catecholamines are often used to increase blood pressure and cardiac output, these have adverse effects that may be associated with increased risk of death especially when used at high doses.

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