New concepts in treatment of sepsis.
| dc.contributor.author | le Roux P. | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2011-05-15T15:54:10Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2011-05-15T15:54:10Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2004 | |
| dc.description.abstract | Critically ill patients still commonly die of the effects of sepsis, despite numerous interventions. Earlier trials investigated mostly anti-inflammatory strategies, based on the prevailing theory that sepsis represents an uncontrolled inflammatory response. We now know that sepsis represents a biphasic response to infection, and the initial pro-inflammatory response that we have targeted thus far is invariably followed by a prolonged period of immune suppression. Indeed, a patient may oscillate between a pro- and anti-inflammatory state repeatedly. The use of steroids remains controversial, and should probably be reserved for a select subset of patients. The coagulation cascade has a powerful effect on inflammation, and manipulation by means of Activated Protein C has been beneficial. It appears tremendously advantageous to resuscitate the critically ill patient early and aggressively to maintain normal oxidative metabolism. This, coupled with the rigorous maintenance of a physiologically neutral milieu (particularly blood glucose levels) seems to be the most powerful weapon we have to manage the critically ill patient with sepsis. | |
| dc.description.version | Article | |
| dc.identifier.citation | SADJ : journal of the South African Dental Association = tydskrif van die Suid-Afrikaanse Tandheelkundige Vereniging | |
| dc.identifier.citation | 59 | |
| dc.identifier.citation | 5 | |
| dc.identifier.issn | 10294864 | |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/9038 | |
| dc.title | New concepts in treatment of sepsis. | |
| dc.type | Article |