Sepsis in general surgery: a deadly complication.
BACKGROUND
Sepsis is a deadly and potentially preventable complication. A better understanding of sepsis in general surgery patients is needed to help direct resources to those patients at highest risk for death from sepsis.


METHODS
We identified risk factors for sepsis in general surgery patients by using the National Surgical Quality Improvement Project database.


RESULTS
Analysis of the database identified 3 major risk factors for both the development of sepsis and death from sepsis in general surgery patients. These risk factors are age older than 60 years, need for emergency surgery, and the presence of comorbid conditions.


CONCLUSIONS
Risk factors for death from sepsis or septic shock in general surgery patients include age older than 60 years, need for emergency surgery, and the presence of preexisting comorbidities. These findings emphasize the need for early recognition through aggressive sepsis screening and rapid implementation of evidence-based interventions for sepsis and septic shock in general surgery patients with these risk factors.
Moore
Laura J
LJ
Department of Surgery, The Methodist Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical College, 6550 Fannin St., Smith Tower 1661, Houston, TX 77030, USA. ljmoore@tmhs.org
Moore
Frederick A
FA
Jones
Stephen L
SL
Xu
Jiaqiong
J
Bass
Barbara L
BL
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D018805:Sepsis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative / Q000009:adverse effects*; D055815:Young Adult