JAMA : the journal of the American Medical Association
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To develop a survival model and severity assessment method to estimate the 28-day mortality risk for patients with sepsis syndrome entering phase 2 and 3 drug evaluations. ⋯ We created an accurate independent estimate for 28-day mortality risk for patients with sepsis syndrome (severe sepsis). This estimate could improve the evaluation of new drugs by investigating whether the drug's benefit varies by patient risk and then determining the amount of benefit for individual patients.
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To investigate the importance of splanchnic ischemia in patients with acute circulatory failure by comparing gastric intramucosal pH as measured by tonometry with conventional methods of assessing adequacy of tissue oxygenation. ⋯ Gastric intramucosal pH was the most reliable indicator of adequacy of tissue oxygenation in this group of patients. Inadequate regional blood flow as detected by a reduction in gastric intramucosal pH, but not by systemic measures, is an important contributor to morbidity and mortality in intensive care units.