Traditional monitoring, using vital signs alone, has been shown to be inadequate in the shock settings. In these cases, an early
application of flow parameters in a goal-directed protocol can
lead to the significant clinical and economic benefits. Simultaneously, there has been the need for the adequate microcirculatory monitoring. Due to this, modern technologies has provided a large number of sophisticated monitors, particularly in the past decade. Among these are GI tonometry, near-infrared spectroscopy, tissue oxygen tension by means of implantable electrodes, visualization of sublingual microcirculatory perfusion using
orthogonal polarization spectral imaging, laser-Doppler flowmetry and others. The article shows the meaning of microcirculatory monitoring in the contemporary shock management. There are also discussed the advantages and disadvantages of the novel tissue oxygenation monitors.