A systematic integrated approach to the diagnostic, monitoring and fluid volume therapy was developed for use in patients with accidental and elective surgical trauma. An algorithm (patient care protocol) is proposed for expeditious resuscitation in emergency situations using: (a) BP as the criteria for initiation of rapid fluid therapy, (b) hematocrit for the choice of blood transfusion or plasma expanders, and (c) CVP, urine output, arterial pressure and wedge pressure as criteria for slowing down or stopping the rate of volume therapy. History, physical examination, laboratory work, X-rays, monitoring and diagnostic procedures are interdigitated in a systematic fashion according to priorities of the most common life-threatening aspects, of the total resuscitation problem. In chaotic emergency situations, it is impossible to plan for all possible contingencies; to try to do so results in an impossibly complex and unwieldy plan. However, we believe that almost any reasonable plan is better than no plan at all.