Clinical characteristics and outcome of the treatment of critically ill patients with abdominal sepsis

Abstract

Introduction: Abdominal infections are common causes of sepsis and septic shock in the intensive care unit (ICU), which are often associated with negative outcomes. Aim: To determine the clinical characteristics of patients with abdominal sepsis, as well as the significance of causes thereof, therapeutic procedures in the ICU, and length of hospital stay related with abdominal sepsis treated at the Clinic for Anesthesiology, Intensive Care, and Pain Therapy from January 1, 2022, to December 31, 2022. Material and Methods: This is a retrospective study conducted at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Clinic for Anesthesiology, Intensive Care, and Pain Therapy, University Clinical Center of Vojvodina (UCCV). By reviewing medical records, 60 patients of both genders with abdominal sepsis were analyzed. Results: Of the 60 patients, 42% were female, while 58% were male, with an average age of 68 years. Of the total number of patients, 38.3% survived, while 61.7% died. Perforation of a hollow organ accounted for 45% of hospitalizations. The mortality rate in the ICU was 65%. Conclusion: Using multivariate logistic regression, we obtained two independent predictors of fatal outcomes with a constant. Together, in the interaction of age ≥65 years and perforations, they increase the probability of a fatal outcomes for about 5.4 times, while vasopressor therapy increases the probability of fatal outcomes about 12 times compared to patients without vasopressor therapy; mortality was statistically higher in patients who required longer mechanical ventilation and in those who were hospitalized longer in the ICU.