Abstract
Objective: Conduct a review the literature on how the increase in arterial lactate can influence the prognosis of patients with septic shock. Bibliographic review: Septic shock is defined as a clinical condition in which the patient needs a vasopressor to maintain an average arterial pressure (MAP) of 65 mmHg or more, and the serum lactate level is greater than 2 mmol / L. Lactate is produced due to a tissue hypoperfusion response, through anaerobic metabolism and under abnormal physiological conditions, it is a compound used as an oxygen balance parameter. In addition, the 10% reduction in the value of lactate is responsible for decreasing about 11% in the mortality rate. Final considerations: High arterial lactate was shown to be related to the increase in the mortality rate, that is, the higher the level of the compound, the worse the prognosis. For this, early diagnosis and promptly instructed therapeutic measures are necessary to increase the survival rate of patients in septic shock.