Comparative Early Hemodynamic Profiles in Patients Presenting to the Emergency Department with Septic and Nonseptic Acute Circulatory Failure Using Focused Echocardiography

Abstract

Hypovolemia was predominantly identified in patients presenting to the ED with acute circulatory failure. Although vasoplegia was more frequently associated with sepsis, early ventricular dysfunction was also depicted in septic patients. Focused echocardiography seemed reliable when performed by recently trained emergency physicians without previous experience in ultrasound.