Recent developments in clinical management of surgical sepsis

• Published in: Current opinion in critical care Vol. 7; no. 5; p. 367
• Main Authors: Danielson, D, West, M A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.10.2001
• Subjects: Acute Disease; Clinical Trials as Topic; Diverticulitis - etiology; Diverticulitis - therapy; Humans; Laparoscopy; Pancreatitis - etiology; Pancreatitis - therapy; Surgical Wound Infection - diagnosis; Surgical Wound Infection - etiology; Surgical Wound Infection - therapy; Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome - etiology; Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome - therapy; Tomography, X-Ray Computed
• ISSN: 1070-5295
• DOI: 10.1097/00075198-200110000-00009

The current clinical management of surgical patients with sepsis is governed by two principles: control of the source of infection and supportive management of the patient until recovery. Recently, there has been renewed interest in the concept of source control-in particular, its importance for evaluating and comparing clinical trials. This brief review highlights some of the developments in the surgical literature. Important recent publications center on source control, the management of systemic inflammatory response syndrome, necrotizing pancreatitis, acute diverticulitis, gastrointestinal fistulas, and the role of laparoscopy in surgical infections. Novel interventions in supportive care are being developed, and their clinical applicability and effectiveness will be improved with increased understanding of the pathophysiology of systemic inflammation.