Septic syndrome and septic shock in the wounded treated at the Split Clinical Hospital Intensive Care Unit.

Introduction: A retrospective study on the occurrence of septic syndrome and septic shock, as well as multiorgan failure, in the wounded at the Split Clinical Hospital Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

Patients And Methods: From 1991 to 1995, 257 wounded persons were treated at the Split Clinical Hospital ICU. Criteria for septic syndrome included evident infection, body temperature > 38 degrees C or < 30.5 degrees C, leukocytosis or leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, as well as dysfunction of one organ. The criterion for septic shock was septic syndrome with hypotonia.

Results: Fifteen patients with septic syndrome and 9 patients with septic shock were admitted and treated at the ICU. Septic syndrome developed in 17 patients and septic shock in 16 patients at the ICU. Acute respiratory distress syndrome developed in 16, renal insufficiency in 26, gastrointestinal disorders in 6, hepatic disorders in 4, hematologic disorders in 13, and central nervous system dysfunction in 17 patients. Twenty-eight percent of patients died in septic syndrome, and 74% died in septic shock.

Conclusion: Septic syndrome and septic shock were the most common causes of death in wounded persons treated at Split Clinical Hospital ICU. At the earliest phase the main cause of death was refractory hypotension, and at the later stage the main cause of death was multiorgan failure.