Purpose of review: To discuss the pathophysiological rationale of advanced hemodynamic monitoring in the critically ill and also to highlight the importance of a multimodal, individualized approach.
Recent findings: There are several clinical studies and animal experiments evaluating, which hemodynamic endpoint should be the best target during fluid management. Recent systematic reviews and meta-analyses also investigated the effects of advanced hemodynamic endpoints targeted hemodynamic management on outcome mainly in high-risk surgical patients. Although most of these studies report positive results, this knowledge does not seem to affect our everyday practice. According to large international surveys, most physicians still rely on inappropriate indices. One of the reasons could be that target values applied in these studies can be misleading in the individual patient. Therefore, we describe the concept of an individualized approach, in which normalizing the components of oxygen delivery are put in the context of the patients' individual response by evaluating components of oxygen consumption, and organ perfusion.
Summary: Advanced hemodynamic monitoring-based management provides a number of benefits, which could be better tailored for the patients' actual needs by putting this into a multimodal, individualized approach.