During a 1-year period (May 1971-May 1972), patients developing the shock syndrome in a large general hospital were referred to a multi-disciplinary shock team. Sepsis, haemorrhage and severe hypoxaemia were the principal precipitating factors. Mortality exceeded 70% in the septic and cardiogenic shock series and was lowest in shock attributable to fluid depletion and drug overdose. Whereas imp...
