No Increased Risk of Mortality When Sepsis Patients were Stabilized in ED

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 and 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," says 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."

Source: American College of Chest Physicians