Abstract
The term ‘shock’ is used to denote a pathological process, but in clinical practice it must be recognized by clinical methods. Successful treatment requires both the haemodynamic abnormality and also the causal disease to be defined. Because of the dynamic nature of the shock process and the multiplicity of the precipitating causes the clinical signs vary with time and also from case to case. Nevertheless, certain broad patterns tend to occur and their relationship to diagnosis and treatment are discussed.