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Hemodynamic monitoring offers valuable information on cardiovascular performance in the critically ill, and has become a fundamental tool in the diagnostic approach and in the therapy guidance of those patients presenting with tissue hypoperfusion. From introduction of the pulmonary artery catheter to the latest less invasive technologies, hemodynamic monitoring has been surrounded by many questions regarding its usefulness and its ultimate impact on patient prognosis. The Cardiological Intensive Care and CPR Working Group (GTCIC-RCP) of the Spanish Society of Intensive Care and Coronary Units (SEMICYUC) has recently impulsed the development of an updating series in hemodynamic monitoring. Now, a final series of recommendations are presented in order to analyze essential issues in hemodynamics, with the purpose of becoming a useful tool for residents and critical care practitioners involved in the daily management of critically ill patients., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier España, S.L. and SEMICYUC. All rights reserved.)

Ultrasound has become an essential tool in assisting critically ill patients. His knowledge, use and instruction requires a statement by scientific societies involved in its development and implementation. Our aim are to determine the use of the technique in intensive care medicine, clinical situations where its application is recommended, levels of knowledge, associated responsibility and learning process also implement the ultrasound technique as a common tool in all intensive care units, similar to the rest of european countries. The SEMICYUC's Working Group Cardiac Intensive Care and CPR establishes after literature review and scientific evidence, a consensus document which sets out the requirements for accreditation in ultrasound applied to the critically ill patient and how to acquire the necessary skills. Training and learning requires a structured process within the specialty. The SEMICYUC must agree to disclose this document, build relationships with other scientific societies and give legal cover through accreditation of the training units, training courses and different levels of training., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier España, S.L. y SEMICYUC. All rights reserved.)

The use of echocardiography in intensive care units in shock patients allows us to measure various hemodynamic variables in an accurate and a non-invasive manner. By using echocardiography not only as a diagnostic technique but also as a tool for continuous hemodynamic monitorization, the intensivist can evaluate various aspects of shock states, such as cardiac output and fluid responsiveness, myocardial contractility, intracavitary pressures, heart-lung interaction and biventricular interdependence. However, to date there has been little guidance orienting echocardiographic hemodynamic parameters in the intensive care unit, and intensivists are usually not familiar with this tool. In this review, we describe some of the most important hemodynamic parameters that can be obtained at the patient bedside with transthoracic echocardiography in critically ill patients., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier España, S.L. and SEMICYUC. All rights reserved.)