title: Does heart rate really predict survival in septic shock?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Normalisation of heart rate after 24 hours of treatment is proposed to predict the survival outcome in septic shock patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  The medical and surgical patients charts from 1991-1993 were selected for the diagnosis of septic shock (according to the definition of ACCP/SCCM Consensus Conference), and reviewed. Also included were patients with available variables to complete APACHE II and septic severity score.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Tachycardia was observed more in the non-survivors (9 patients) both in shock (107.8 vs 93.4) and non-shock states (112.3 vs 93.2). Heart rate in the survival group decreased below the cut-off value, which is 95 beats/min, as specified by ACCP/SCCM. Comparison between APACHE II and SSS was not well correlated because of the small sample size. Elements in creating a predictor and its categorisation are mentioned.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Heart rate was concluded to be a simple predictor reflecting physiologic derangements in septic shock. It is recommended that further study needs to be carried out to unravel a predictor of clinical value in terms of practicality, especially that involving the inflammatory aspect of the disease process.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Sawanpracharak Hospital, Nakornsawan, Thailand.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sukavejvorakit
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tantivitayatan
mesh_terms: D018806:APACHE; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology*; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012772:Shock, Septic / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015996:Survival Rate