在许多情况下, 早期有效的管理重疾将防止休克进展。例如早期识别和治疗败血症,[2]Rhodes A, Evans LE, Alhazzani W, et al. Surviving Sepsis Campaign: international guidelines for management of sepsis and septic shock - 2016. Intensive Care Med. 2017 Mar;43(3):304-77.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28101605?tool=bestpractice.com 或以溶栓治疗或血管成形术对心肌梗死患者进行及时再灌注治疗。[20]Brodie BR, Hansen C, Stuckey TD, et al. Door-to-balloon time with primary percutaneous coronary intervention for acute myocardial infarction impacts late cardiac mortality in high-risk patients and patients presenting early after the onset of symptoms. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2006 Jan 17;47(2):289-95.https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0735109705025027?via%3Dihubhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16412849?tool=bestpractice.com
危重病情及恶化的早期发现对于预防休克发展是很重要的。早期预警评分(有时也被称为改良早期预警评分[MEWS],有风险的患者的评分或者跟踪和触发评分)以生理变量(例如心率和血压)为基础,护理人员或医生能在床旁较为容易地为任何有理由关注的患者计算出该评分。这些评分有助于预测潜在的恶化,以便及早进行干预。每个医院和国家所使用的具体评分系统都不同:例如,英国最常用的评分是英国国家早期预警评分 (National Early Warning Score, NEWS2)。[21]Royal College of Physicians. National early warning score (NEWS) 2. December 2017 [internet publication].https://www.rcplondon.ac.uk/projects/outputs/national-early-warning-score-news-2