[Initial diagnosis and treatment of shock].

Background: Structured procedures have been established internationally for the initial clinical care of patients with traumatic injuries. Comparable concepts have not yet been applied to the initial clinical care of life-threatening nontraumatic emergencies. In 2022, a working group of the German Society for Acute and Emergency Medicine (DGINA) presented the Advanced Critical Illness Life Support (ACiLS) concept for the care of nontraumatic emergencies and offers corresponding training courses.

Objective: To present systematic clinical first aid for patients with the leading symptom of shock according to the ACiLS concept.

Result: The (PR_E-)AUD²IT basic algorithm used in the ACiLS concept divides the initial care of a critically ill patient into the elements of preparation, resources, initial care, medical history, examination, differential diagnosis, diagnostics, interpretation and to do, interrupted by three team time-out elements for structured communication. The use of this concept is demonstrated here using the example of shock.

Conclusion: The ACiLS concept has the potential to improve the quality of initial care of nontraumatic emergencies in emergency department shock rooms and intensive care units. Further evaluations in practice and training capacities are essential.