Goal-directed therapy: what we know and what we need to know.

Goal-directed therapy (GDT) utilizes monitoring techniques to help guide clinicians with administering fluids, vasopressors, inotropes, or other treatments to patients in various clinical settings. Multiple studies have investigated the potential benefits of GDT, but no consensus on the use of GDT exists. Future trials which address fluid and inotrope choice as well as expanding the results to evaluate patient-centered outcomes in addition to survival are warranted.