Treating Shock — Old Drugs, New Ideas

Circulatory shock is a medical emergency that is characterized by hypotension and decreased tissue perfusion; if left untreated, it can lead to irreversible cellular injury and death. Hypotension associated with shock can be the result of any of a number of factors, depending on the type of shock; these include biventricular dysfunction, intravascular hypovolemia, and the vascular effects of inflammatory responses. Irrespective of the underlying cause of shock, the treatment includes initial resuscitation with vasopressors, volume expansion (performed cautiously in patients with heart failure), and additional therapy for multiorgan system dysfunction, concomitantly with correction of the underlying cause. A critical . . .