Schnittke N, Schmidt J, Barvalia U, et al. - Researchers sought to report on the changes in cardiac function throughout the course of resuscitation of patients with suspected septic shock. Point-of-Care Transthoracic Echocardiograms (TTE) retrieved in emergency department (ED) cases with a presumed infectious cause of hypotension within one hour of initiating IV fluid resuscitation were assessed in this prospective observational cohort study. A second TTE was available in 22 enrolled patients for comparison to the initial, preresuscitation TTE. A mid-resuscitation TTE in 12 patients and a postresuscitation TTE in 16 patients were retrieved. Observations revealed common occurrence of cardiac function changes assessed by TTE during the resuscitation of patients with septic shock. These changes probably indicate the underlying physiology of patients with septic shock and associate with necessity for interventions and higher level of care. Intensity of cardiopulmonary treatment was noted influencing right ventricle dysfunction. No association of initial hyperdynamic function with intensity of treatment was observed.