MONTREAL, Oct. 19, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Researchers from Baylor Scott & White Health and Texas A &M Health Science Center College of Medicine in Temple, Texas, found no increased risk of mortality for patients with severe sepsis who were stabilized in the ED prior to ICU admission.
The retrospective chart review revealed sicker patients were triaged quickly to the ICU and had a shorter ED length of stay. Additional variables that may impact mortality in severe sepsis were also analyzed. These included ED triage to antibiotic time, triage to lactate time, lactate clearance, ED length of stay, and variations in volume of IV fluids. Most variables did not show a significant difference in outcomes, with the exception of initial lactate value ≥4and shorter length of stay in the ED, both of which indicated sicker patients and were tied to higher mortality rates.
"Our study found that the sickest patients were more quickly triaged to the ICU. Those patients who were less sick and kept in the ED for longer time had lower mortality," said Dr. Aruna Jahoor, Baylor Scott & White Health Central Division and lead researcher, "these results suggest that identification and immediate treatment may positively impact survival in sepsis—no matter the hospital location of that patient."
Further results will be shared on October 26 at 1:30 pm in room 513ef, Palais des Congrès de Montréal. The study abstract can be viewed on the journal CHEST website. (http://bit.ly/1XfLpNI)
CHEST Annual Meeting 2015 is the 81st annual meeting of the American College of Chest Physicians (CHEST), held October 24-28, 2015, in Montréal. CHEST, publisher of the journal CHEST, is the global leader in advancing best patient outcomes through innovative chest medicine education, clinical research, and team-based care. Its mission is to champion the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of chest diseases through education, communication, and research. It serves as an essential connection to clinical knowledge and resources for its 18,700 members from around the world who provide patient care in pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine. For information about CHEST, visit chestnet.org, or follow the CHEST meeting hashtag, #CHEST2015, on social media.