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Principles of Adult Surgical Critical Care pp 257–265Cite as

Sepsis, Severe Sepsis, and Septic Shock

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Abstract

The sepsis syndrome represents the wide spectrum of the deleterious inflammatory response to an infectious insult. As the most common cause of mortality in the surgical intensive care unit, understanding the diagnosis and management of sepsis is critical for the surgical ICU physician. Early identification and aggressive resuscitation of the septic patient, combined with adequate surgical source control, can be lifesaving. Surgeons and critical care physicians who care for septic patients should be familiar with current evidence-based practices in the management of sepsis. Patients with organ system dysfunction and failure should be identified and appropriate support initiated. As more patients survive severe sepsis and septic shock, a syndrome of persistent inflammation, immune suppression, and catabolism has been identified and presents a new and difficult challenge for physicians.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Trauma and Surgical Critical Care, DeWitt Daughtry Family Department of Surgery, Jackson Memorial Hospital, Ryder Trauma Center, 1611 NW 12 Ave, Miami, FL, 33136, USA

    Andrew C. Gaugler DO

  2. Department of Surgery, University of Miami Hospital/Jackson Memorial Hospital/Ryder Trauma Center, 1800 NW 10th Avenue, Ste. T215, Miami, FL, 33136, USA

    Nicholas Namias MD, MBA

Authors
  1. Andrew C. Gaugler DO
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  2. Nicholas Namias MD, MBA
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Andrew C. Gaugler DO .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Trauma, Surgical Critical Care, Emergency Surgery, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Niels D. Martin

  2. Trauma, Surgical Critical Care, Emergency Surgery, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Lewis J. Kaplan

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© 2016 Springer International Publishing Switzerland

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Gaugler, A.C., Namias, N. (2016). Sepsis, Severe Sepsis, and Septic Shock. In: Martin, N.D., Kaplan, L.J. (eds) Principles of Adult Surgical Critical Care. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-33341-0_22

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-33341-0_22

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-33339-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-33341-0

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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