Journal of intensive care medicine
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J Intensive Care Med · May 2012
Severe sepsis and its impact on outcome in elderly and very elderly patients admitted in intensive care unit.
Elderly patients comprise an increasing proportion of intensive care unit (ICU) admissions. Advanced age and multiple comorbidities compromise their immunity and hence they may be more prone to succumbing to severe infection and have poorer outcome. We undertook this study to review impact of severe sepsis on mortality in the elderly patients. ⋯ The risk of dying from severe sepsis is considerably higher in the elderly and very elderly subgroup of patients with age as an independent risk factor for mortality. Hence, early aggressive care to recognize and manage severe sepsis is required to improve outcome.
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Over the past 30 years, surgical specialties have introduced and expanded the role of open abdominal management in complicated operative cases, necessitating an intensivist's understanding of the indications and unique intensive care unit (ICU) issues related to the open abdomen. When presented with the open abdomen, resuscitation to correct shock is of primary concern. This is accomplished by correction of hypothermia, acidosis, and coagulopathy in trauma and adequate resolution of intra-abdominal hypertension or source control in general surgery. ⋯ Reconstruction may require staging, but in general, should proceed following resolution of shock and control of sepsis. Elevated multiorgan dysfunction score, Acute Physiology And Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II), and a rise in peak inspiratory pressure portend poor source control and could result in failure of fascial closure. If unable to proceed to fascial closure, then considerations should be made for planned ventral hernia and subsequent abdominal wall reconstruction.