OBJECTIVES To describe the profound alterations in host immunity that are produced by major surgery as demonstrated by experimental and clinical studies, and to evaluate the benefits of therapeutic strategies aimed at attenuating perioperative immune dysfunction. DATA SOURCES A review of the English-language literature was conducted, incorporating searches of the MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane...

BACKGROUND There is paucity of research to quantify the severity and to predict the mortality risk of severe falciparum malaria even if it affects multiple organ systems during the course of the disease. Therefore, the aim of the present study is to develop a severity score for assessment of disease severity and risk prediction in adult patients of severe falciparum malaria on the first day of ...

Multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) is a systemic, dysfunctional inflammatory response that requires long intensive care unit (ICU) stay. It is characterized with high mortality rate depending on the number of organs involved. It has been recognized that organ failure does not occur as an all-or-none rule, but rather a range of organ dysfunction exists resulting in clinical organ failure...

Multiple organ failure is the commonest cause of death in the intensive care unit setting. There are numerous precipitating factors including sepsis, trauma and pancreatitis. The resulting tissue hypoxia, exaggerated inflammatory response and generation of free oxygen radicals leads to tissue damage and organ dysfunction. No definitive treatment exists despite considerable efforts to find a 'ma...

We thank Dr. Barie and his colleagues for their interest in our data.1 It is satisfying to note that other investigators also have had a similar experience regarding the influence of nonpulmonary organ dysfunction and failure on outcome in patients with respiratory failure. Contrary to our findings, they have reported2 that hepatic dysfunction had a significant influence of patient mortality in...

INTRODUCTION EPIDEMIOLOGY The Civilian Experience The Military Experience Traumatic Injury Trauma-Related Sepsis and Septic Shock Cellular and Subcellular Mechanisms Leading to SIRS/MODS Components and Products From Microorganisms Giving Rise to SIRS/MODS Cellular Components Contributing to SIRS/MODS Endogenous Mediators ORGAN-SPECIFIC RESPONSES Cardiovascular Response Pulmonary Response Renal ...