Non-traumatic Shock in the Emergency Department: The ACES (Abdominal and Cardiac Evaluation with Sonography in Shock) Protocol

Hypotension and shock are life-threatening situations that emergency physicians encounter frequently. The correct diagnosis and targeted therapy are essential for survival. Evaluating trauma cases with FAST (Focused Assessment with Sonography for Trauma) in cases of trauma is an indispensable application for rapid diagnosis and treatment in the emergency department. In recent years, the ACES protocol (Abdominal and Cardiac Evaluation with Sonography in Shock) has been a life-saving protocol in patients with non-traumatic hypotension and shock. In this paper, we aimed to emphasize the importance of the ACES protocol in four cases admitted to the emergency department with non-traumatic hypotension and shock, diagnosed as massive intra-abdominal hemorrhage.