Optimizing hemodynamic support in septic shock using central and mixed venous oxygen saturation.

Global tissue hypoxia is one of the most important factors in the development of multisystem organ dysfunction. In hemodynamically unstable critically ill patients, central venous oxygen saturation (Scvo(2)) and mixed venous oxygen saturation (Svo(2)) monitoring has been shown to be a better indicator of global tissue hypoxia than vital signs and other clinical parameters alone. Svo(2) is probably more representative of global tissue oxygenation, whereas Scvo(2), is less invasive. Svo(2) and Scvo(2) monitoring can have diagnostic and therapeutic uses in understanding the efficacy of interventions in treating critically ill, hemodynamically unstable patients.