Resuscitation
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Clinicians now realize the limitations of the physical examination in detecting compensated shock states, the severity of uncompensated states, and in determining the adequacy of resuscitation in order to prevent subsequent post-traumatic multisystem organ failure and death. A renewed interest has developed in interrogating the state of oxygen transport at the end-organ level in the trauma patient. ⋯ This includes its known limitations, current controversies, and what will be needed in the future to make this technology a part of the initial and ongoing assessment of the trauma patient. The ultimate goal of such techniques is to prevent misassessment of patients and inadequate resuscitation, which are believed to be major initiators in the development of multisystem organ failure and death.