BACKGROUND Acute pyelonephritis (APN) is a common complication of ureteral obstruction caused by urolithiasis, and it can be lethal if it progresses to septic shock. We investigated the clinical characteristics of patients undergoing emergency drainage and assessed risk factors for septic shock. METHODS A retrospective study was performed of 98 patients (101 events) requiring emergency draina...

BACKGROUND High-volume haemofiltration (HVHF) has been used successfully in animal models with sepsis, and preliminary data have shown that this technique may improve the haemodynamics in patients with refractory septic shock. We used high-volume continuous venovenous haemodiafiltration (CVVHDF) in patients with acute kidney injury (AKI) and refractory septic shock to evaluate their outcome whe...

This review of vasopressin in septic shock differs from previous reviews by providing more information on the physiology and pathophysiology of vasopressin and vasopressin receptors, particularly because of recent interest in more specific AVPR1a agonists and new information from the Vasopressin and Septic Shock Trial (VASST), a randomized trial of vasopressin versus norepinephrine in septic sh...

INTRODUCTION Endothelial barrier breakdown is a hallmark of septic shock, and proteins that physiologically regulate endothelial barrier integrity are emerging as promising biomarkers of septic shock development. Patients with cancer and febrile neutropenia (FN) present a higher risk of sepsis complications, such as septic shock. Nonetheless, these patients are normally excluded or under-repres...

BACKGROUND The present report describes the outcomes of a cohort of patients with Candida induced septic shock. METHODS Retrospective analysis of individuals who had at least one positive blood culture for Candida species ≥ 48 h after ICU admission. Data from patients that developed septic shock within 48 hr of the positive blood culture were compared to non-shock candidemic patients. Patient...

Paediatric septic shock is a frequently occurring disease condition that is associated with high morbidity and mortality (Watson et al, 2003). Shock is an acute, complex state of circulatory dysfunction resulting in failure to deliver oxygen (DO2) and nutrients to meet metabolic demands (VO2) which are usually increased during shock. If left untreated, multiple organ failure and ultimately deat...

Human septic shock involves multiple genome-level perturbations. We have conducted microarray analyses in children with septic shock within 24 h of intensive care unit admission, using whole blood-derived RNA. Based on sequential statistical and expression filters, there were 2,482 differentially regulated gene probes (1,081 upregulated and 1,401 downregulated) between patients with septic shoc...

INTRODUCTION Septic shock is a major cause of morbidity and mortality throughout the world. Unfortunately, the optimal fluid management of septic shock is unknown and currently is empirical. METHODS A retrospective analysis was performed at Barnes-Jewish Hospital (St. Louis, Missouri). Consecutive patients (n = 325) hospitalized with septic shock who had echocardiographic examinations perform...

T his review will cover septic shock as a manifestation of severe sepsis. The reader is referred to other articles, which review the myriad multisystem dysfunctions associated with severe sepsis (1–4), and is reminded that as in all patients with sepsis early initiation of appropriate antibiotics and adequate source control are key components of septic shock treatment. Ascertaining the incidenc...

INTRODUCTION Hospital-acquired pneumonia after surgery is one of the major causes of septic shock. The excessive inflammatory response appears to be responsible for the increased susceptibility to infections and subsequent sepsis. The primary aim of this study was to investigate immune parameters at the onset of pneumonia, before the development of subsequent septic shock. The secondary aim was...