Fig. 2From: Early goal-directed resuscitation of patients with septic shock: current evidence and future directionsEarly goal-directed therapy. During the first 6Â hours of septic shock, the early goal-directed therapy protocol requires the placement of a central venous catheter with an oximetric port for continuous monitoring of central venous pressure (CVP) and central venous oxygen saturation (ScvO2). Resuscitation with intravenous fluids, vasopressors, and packed red blood cells is titrated to specific end-points, including CVP of 8 to 12Â mm Hg, mean arterial pressure (MAP) of at least 65Â mm Hg, and ScvO2 of at least 70 %. Inotropic therapy is recommended in patients with low cardiac output despite adequate volume and MAP. Recent controlled clinical trials have challenged the efficacy of this approach for reducing mortality among patients with septic shock. HCT hematocritBack to article page