Conventional endpoints may overlook pulmonary biological stress during abdominal mechanical loading and volume expansion. This controlled experimental study evaluated whether intra-abdominal hypertension (IAH), hypervolemia (HV), or their combination induces early pulmonary biochemical, permeability, oxidative-ischemic, inflammatory, and structural responses, with particular focus on surfactant protein A1 (SP-A1). Thirty-five male Wistar rats were randomized to Sham, HV, IAH, or IAH + HV groups. IAH was induced by CO2 pneumoperitoneum at 12-15 mmHg, and HV by 6% hydroxyethyl starch infusion until hematocrit decreased to approximately 25%; animals were followed for 120 min. Physiological variables, blood gases, wet-to-dry ratio, ATS-based histopathology, and biomarkers in plasma, bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid, and lung tissue were assessed. The dominant finding was a compartment-specific SP-A1 response: plasma SP-A1 was highest in the IAH group, whereas BAL fluid SP-A1 increased in both HV and IAH groups. These changes occurred without significant alterations in MAP, HR, SpO2, wet-to-dry ratio, or ATS lung injury score. Permeability index was higher in HV-containing groups, and sialic acid and oxidative-ischemic markers showed compartment-dependent changes, whereas TNF-α, IL-6, HA, and ANP did not differ significantly. These exploratory, hypothesis-generating findings suggest that SP-A1 may reveal early pulmonary epithelial/barrier stress before overt physiological or structural injury becomes apparent.

BACKGROUND/AIM:Sepsis-induced acute kidney injury is a fatal, potentially reversible clinical condition. C5a receptor (C5aR) has been implied to play pivotal roles in both autophagy and sepsis-induced organ dysfunction. The aim of this study was to demonstrate the effects of intravenous immunoglobulin preparations on the expression of autophagy markers and investigate possible association between C5aR expression and autophagy in the kidney tissue of septic rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS:Sepsis was induced by cecal ligation perforation (CLP) in rats, which were divided into control, sham, CLP+saline, CLP+IgG (250 mg/kg, iv), and CLP+immunoglobulins enriched with immunoglobulin M (IgGAM) (250 mg/kg, iv) groups. Kidney samples were obtained in two sets of experiments to examine the early (1 day) and late (10 days) effects of treatment. Renal expression levels of C5aR, LC3A/B, and beclin-1 were measured using immunoblotting. RESULTS:CLP did not enhance the renal expression of autophagy markers or C5aR. Contrariwise, IgG, and IgGAM administration reduced mortality caused by the CLP procedure and significantly increased C5aR, beclin-1, and LC3A/B expression levels in kidney samples of septic rats. Surviving rats had higher renal expression levels of C5aR, beclin-1, and LC3A/B than deceased rats. Expression levels of C5aR, beclin-1, and LC3A/B showed a strong correlation during the early stage of CLP-induced sepsis but not in the late stage. CONCLUSION:Human-derived immunoglobulin preparations may ameliorate sepsis-related organ dysfunction partially through autophagy-related mechanisms. In the early stage of treatment, enhancement of autophagy in the kidney appears to be associated with C5aR expression.

Background and Aims: Sepsis-associated acute kidney injury (S-AKI) is common and is associated with poor outcomes. This prospective observational study aimed to assess the predictive value of four novel biomarkers—syndecan-1 (SDC1), neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), proenkephalin (PENK), and presepsin (PSPN)—for renal outcomes and mortality in septic ICU patients. Methods: Serum biomarker levels were measured in serum samples collected at the time of sepsis diagnosis on the basis of the Sepsis-3 criteria. Acute kidney injury (AKI) was defined according to the Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) guidelines, and patients were grouped by the presence of AKI, renal replacement therapy requirement (RRT), and intensive care unit (ICU) survival. Demographic, clinical, laboratory, and severity score data were compared between groups to evaluate the predictive performance of biomarkers and clinical parameters. Results: Of the 140 septic patients included, 55.0% developed AKI, 17.2% required RRT, and the ICU mortality rate was 50.0%. SDC1 was independently associated with both AKI (OR: 1.201; p = 0.024) and RRT initiation (OR: 1.260; p = 0.004). It also demonstrated the highest predictive performance for RRT (AUC: 0.715; p = 0.001) and a significant AUC for AKI evaluation (AUC: 0.659; p = 0.002). NGAL levels were significantly elevated in patients with AKI and higher SOFA scores but were not independently predictive. PENK and PSPN were not significantly associated with any renal outcome or mortality. The combined SOFA–SDC1 model improved discrimination for both AKI (AUC: 0.770) and RRT (AUC: 0.737), surpassing individual predictors. Conclusions: SDC1 emerged as the most reliable biomarker for assessing AKI and predicting the need for RRT, highlighting its potential role in early renal risk stratification among critically ill patients.

Objective: Hypercoagulopathy related to hyperinflammation may be responsible for mortality and organ failure in coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) patients. Abnormal coagulation profiles were associated with poor outcomes. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of antithrombin (AT) levels in critically ill COVID-19 patients on the intensive care unit (ICU) admission. Materials and Methods: Four hundred ten critically ill COVID-19 patients were retrospectively analyzed. Inflammatory and conventional coagulation parameters as well as AT activity levels were recorded on the ICU admission. The clinical outcomes of patients were analyzed. Results: AT levels on the ICU admission were significantly lower in non-survivors than survivors (77.9% vs. 82.5%; p=0.027). Besides AT, D-dimer values of non-survivors were significantly higher than survivors (2775 vs. 1495 pg/L; p<0.001). The cut-off levels for AT and D-dimer were 70.5% and 1585 pg/L, respectively. When AT and D-dimer were analyzed together, mortality estimation was better than only D-dimer or AT. Conclusion: Low AT levels may be indicative of severe disease and mortality together with high D-dimer levels in COVID-19 patients. Diagnosing and managing AT deficiency in COVID-19 patients could be beneficial for survival. So AT level measurements should be included in the routine panel of laboratory investigation.

OBJECTIVE:Due to numerous stressors in intensive care, common psychosocial problems arise in patients. Among these, decreased anxiety and sleep quality are observed. This study aims to determine the effect of lavender and bergamot oil applied by inhalation on anxiety and sleep quality in surgical intensive care unit patients. METHODS:Fifty-four patients hospitalized in the intensive care unit of a hospital in Istanbul, Turkey, were included in this study. They were randomly divided into three groups (Lavender, Bergamot, Control). Intervention groups were exposed to 3 drops of lavender oil or bergamot oil on pillows for 20 min, which were then placed 10 cm away from the patient's head. This intervention was applied for two nights. The patients' sleep quality and anxiety level were evaluated using the "State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI)" and "Richard-Campbell Sleep Scale (RCSS)." Data were analyzed using Chi-square, independent t-test, One-way ANOVA tests. RESULTS:According to our results, anxiety scores significantly decreased in the lavender and bergamot groups. Sleep quality scores significantly increased (p = <0.001). The control group showed lower sleep quality scores. CONCLUSION:Lavender and bergamot oil inhalation appeared effective in reducing anxiety and improving sleep quality in surgical intensive care unit patients.

Introduction Acute kidney injury (AKI) is linked to disease severity and prognosis in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), and mortality increases even with milder stages. This study primarily investigated the effects of continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) timing on intensive care unit (ICU) mortality in patients with COVID-19 with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and AKI. Secondary goals were secondary goals for the ICU, days without life support treatment, and change in post-CRRT day biomarker levels, the length of ICU and overall hospital stay.Methods In this retrospective study, patients with COVID-19 with ARDS and AKI were divided into CRRT initiated at AKI stages 1 and 2, early-CRRT (E-CRRT) and AKI stage 3, late-CRRT (L-CRRT) and followed until discharge or death.Results E-CRRT had 20 patients and L-CRRT had 18 patients. No association between CRRT timing and ICU mortality was detected (p = 0.724). Moreover, the timing was not associated with ICU, total hospital stay, or days without life support treatment. However, it was associated with D-dimer levels for both groups and ferritin and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels for E-CRRT. There were no associations for other markers, such as procalcitonin, troponin T, pro-brain natriuretic peptide (pro-BNP), interleukin-6, fibrinogen, or antithrombin III levels.Conclusions CRRT timing was not associated with ICU mortality, total hospital stay, or days without life support treatment in this cohort. For E-CRRT, ferritin and CRP levels, and for both groups, D-dimer levels, were associated with CRRT timing. Randomized controlled trials are needed to examine the effects of CRRT timing in patients with COVID-19 with ARDS and AKI.

Background:Vaccines against coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) have been effective in preventing symptomatic diseases, hospitalizations, and intensive care unit (ICU) admissions. However, data regarding the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines in reducing mortality among critically ill patients with COVID-19 remains unclear.Aims:To determine the vaccination status and investigate the impact of the COVID-19 vaccine on the 28-day mortality in critically ill patients with COVID-19.Study Design:Multicenter prospective observational clinical study.Methods:This study was conducted in 60 hospitals with ICUs managing critically ill patients with COVID-19. Patients aged ≥ 18 years with confirmed COVID-19 who were admitted to the ICU were included. The present study had two phases. The first phase was designed as a one-day point prevalence study, and demographic and clinical findings were evaluated. In the second phase, the 28-day mortality was evaluated.Results:As of August 11, 2021, 921 patients were enrolled in the study. The mean age of the patients was 65.42 ± 16.74 years, and 48.6% (n = 448) were female. Among the critically ill patients with COVID-19, 52.6% (n = 484) were unvaccinated, 7.7% (n = 71) were incompletely vaccinated, and 39.8% (n = 366) were fully vaccinated. A subgroup analysis of 817 patients who were unvaccinated (n = 484) or who had received two doses of the CoronaVac vaccine (n = 333) was performed. The 28-day mortality rate was 56.8% (n = 275) and 57.4% (n = 191) in the unvaccinated and two-dose CoronaVac groups, respectively. The 28-day mortality was associated with age, hypertension, the number of comorbidities, type of respiratory support, and APACHE II and sequential organ failure assessment scores (p < 0.05). The odds ratio for the 28-day mortality among those who had received two doses of CoronaVac was 0.591 (95% confidence interval: 0.413-0.848) (p = 0.004).Conclusion:Vaccination with at least two doses of CoronaVac within six months significantly decreased mortality in vaccinated patients than in unvaccinated patients.

Purpose Sepsis-associated encephalopathy (SAE) is a common manifestation of sepsis that may lead to cognitive decline. Our aim was to investigate whether the neurofilament light chain (NFL) and soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2 (sTREM2) could be utilized as prognostic biomarkers in SAE. Materials and methods In this prospective observational study, baseline serum levels of sTREM2 and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of sTREM2 and NFL were measured by ELISA in 11 SAE patients and controls. Patients underwent daily neurological examination. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and standard electroencephalography (EEG) were performed. Cognitive dysfunction was longitudinally assessed after discharge in 4 SAE patients using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination-Revised (ACE-R) tests. Results SAE patients showed higher CSF sTREM2 and NFL levels than controls. sTREM2 and NFL levels were not correlated with the severity measures of sepsis. Three months after discharge, 2 SAE patients displayed ACE-R scores congruent with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), persisting in one patient 12 months after discharge. SAE patients with MCI showed higher CSF NFL levels, bacteremia, and abnormal brain MRI. Patients with increased serum/CSF sTREM2 levels showed trends towards displaying poorer attention/orientation and visuo-spatial skills. Conclusions sTREM2 and NFL levels may serve as a prognostic biomarker for cognitive decline in SAE. These results lend further support for the involvement of glial activation and neuroaxonal degeneration in the physiopathology of SAE.

Objective: Our study aimed to compare the mini-bronchoalveolar lavage (mini-BAL) method with the classical methods of endotracheal aspiration (ETA) and BAL in patients followed up in the intensive care unit (ICU) diagnosed with nosocomial pneumonia. Materials and Methods: Our study comprised 30 patients who were followed up with a suspicion of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) between February 2014 and January 2015 at Istanbul University, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology and Reanimation, ICU.Results: A total of 40% (12 people) of the patients were women, 60% (18 people) were men, and the mean age was 54.23 +/- 21.37 years. The mean duration of mechanical ventilation was 9.7 +/- 22.8 days. The mean Simplified Acute Physiology Score III of the patients was 36.06 +/- 8.46, the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation-II score was 21.36 +/- 4.90, and the Clinical Pulmoner Infection score was 5.90 +/- 1.91. The consistency of the mini-BAL method, according to bronchoscopy, was 86.7%, and its consistency, compared with tracheal aspiration, was 63.3%. The consistency between the ETA and bronchoscopy method was 60%.Conclusion: Therefore, in the comparison of the methods used in the diagnosis of patients with suspected VAP in the ICU, mini-BAL gave reliable results in the early period.

OBJECTIVE:Viral load varies during infection and is higher during the initial stages of disease. Given the importance of the intensive care unit (ICU) in the late stages of COVID-19 infection, analyzing cycle threshold values to detect viral load upon ICU admission can be a clinically valuable tool for identifying patients with the highest mortality risk.METHODS:This was a retrospectively designed study. Patients older than 18 years who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 PCR and had a PaO2/FiO2 ratio <200 were included in the study. The patient population was divided into two groups: survivors and non-survivors.RESULTS:Two hundred patients were included in the study. In non-survivors, age, relevant ICU admission scores, and procalcitonin levels were significantly higher whereas PaO2/FiO2 ratios and cycle threshold levels were significantly lower than in survivors.CONCLUSION:Viral load at ICU admission has significant prognostic value. In combination with age, comorbidities, and severity scores, viral load may assist clinicians in identifying individuals who need more intensive monitoring. Increased awareness may improve outcomes by allowing the more effective monitoring and treatment of patients. More prospective studies are needed to determine how a high viral load worsens disease and how to avoid irreversible results.

Background Sepsis-associated encephalopathy (SAE) is frequently encountered in sepsis and is often accompanied by neuroimaging findings indicating ischemia, hemorrhage, and edema. Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) has been vastly underrecognized in previously reported cohorts of patients with sepsis and SAE. Our aim was to determine the prevalence and distinguishing clinical, neuroimaging, and electroencephalography features of PRES in SAE. Methods In this prospective observational study, patients with radiologically identified PRES were selected from a consecutively enrolled cohort of 156 patients with SAE and assessed for neurological outcome using the extended Glasgow Outcome Scale for 12 months. Patients with SAE and PRES and other types of brain lesions were compared in terms of clinical and diagnostic workup features. Results Fourteen of 156 patients (8.9%) were determined to be radiologically compatible with PRES, whereas 48 patients displayed other types of acute brain lesions. Patients with PRES often showed lesions in atypical regions, including frontal lobes, the corpus callosum, and the basal ganglia. Source of infection was mostly gram-negative bacteria originating from pneumonia or intraabdominal infections. Patients with PRES were not different from other patients with SAE with brain lesions in terms of features of sepsis and neurological outcome. However, patients with PRES showed increased prevalence of seizures and intraabdominal source of infection. Conclusions PRES is highly prevalent in SAE, often encompasses unusual brain regions, and usually presents with generalized seizures. Patients with SAE and PRES do not appear to have distinguishing clinical and diagnostic workup features. However, generalized seizures may serve as warning signs for presence of PRES in patients with SAE.

Background Coronavirus disease- 2019 (COVID-19) related to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) caused by the highly infectious SARS-CoV-2 novel coronavirus is a major cause of death during the pandemic period. Here we aim to present the retrospective data analysis of extubation success to High Flow Nasal Cannula Oxygen Therapy (HFNO) in COVID-19 ARDS patients. Methods The data of 22 laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 ARDS patients who were extubated to HFNO therapy at an intensive care unit (ICU) were analyzed. Respiratory variables as well as demographic characteristics were collected on admission. The mechanical ventilation volumes and pressures together with blood gas measurements were recorded during the intubation period. HFNO flow rate, FiO2, and oxygenation variables were collected 5 consecutive days after extubation. The reintubation rate within the 5 days following planned extubation, duration of ICU stay, and mortality were recorded. Results Among 22 patients, 16 were male (72.7%) and the mean age was 69.9 ± 13,2 years with the highest comorbidity being hypertension (59.1%). The duration between symptom initiation to ICU admission was 6.5 ± 7,9 days where nearly all patients were intubated on the same day. Twenty patients were successfully extubated to HFNO and 2 patients experienced reintubation. The mean duration of HFNO treatment was 4.8 ± 3.6 days and the length of ICU stay was 17.4 ± 6 days. The ICU mortality ratio of this complete data was 13.6% (3/22). Conclusion Among high-risk ARDS COVID-19 patients who have undergone extubation, HFNO therapy should be considered for preventing reintubation and post-extubation respiratory failure.

Background Living donor liver transplantation may complement cadaveric transplantation in acute liver failure (ALF) patients. Methods Between 2008 and 2017, 89 patients were treated for ALF; 15 patients (17%) recovered with intensive care treatment; 31 (35%) died without transplant. The records of the remaining 43 patients (median (range) age: 14 (1-62)) who underwent transplantation were evaluated. Results The etiologic factors were toxic agents (10; mushrooms: 8; herbs: 2), hepatitis viruses (7; A: 1; B: 6), Wilson's disease (7), autoimmune hepatitis (4), and Budd-Chiari syndrome (2); 13 cases were idiopathic. Cadaveric organs (whole, split, reduced) were transplanted to 32 patients; 11 patients underwent living donor transplantation. One patient (2%) died of septic shock on the second postoperative day. Bacterial infection was the most common early (< 3 months) complication in the remaining patients (31/42; 74%), followed by delirium (5/42; 12%) and acute rejection requiring steroid pulse (5/42; 12%). Seven other patients died during median (range) follow-up of 94 (14-142) months: various infections (5), leukemia (1), and acute myocardial infarction (1). The 1-, 5-, and 10-year survival rates were 100%, 96%, and 92% in children and 94%, 82%, and 65% in adults respectively. Conclusions Cadaveric organ sharing and transplantation from living donors when appropriate yield a high survival rate, despite high early morbidity, in ALF patients whose conditions deteriorate despite intensive care treatment. Efforts to eliminate preventable causes of acute liver failure will lead to more efficient use of health care resources.

Hypercoagulopathy associated with the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is the leading cause of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), multiple organ failure, and mortality. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) has been used to manage patients with COVID 19-associated severe respiratory or cardiac failure. In this report, we aim to summarise our experience with deadly thrombotic complications during venovenous ECMO (vvECMO) treatment in 6 patients with COVID-19-associated ARDS between March 19, 2020 and April 20, 2020. Based on our experience with 6 COVID-19-associated ARDS patients on ECMO, we intend to raise awareness regarding thrombotic complications leading to mortality.

INTRODUCTION:The aim of this study was to reveal the effect of the individual's lifestyle and personality traits on the disease process in patients with sepsis and to have clinical predictions about these patients.MATERIALS AND METHODS:The study was planned as a multi-center, prospective, observational study after obtaining the approval of the local ethics committee. Patients were hospitalized in different intensive care units. Besides demographics and personal characteristics of patients, laboratory data, length of hospital and ICU stay, and mortality was recorded. Two hundred and fifty-nine patients were followed up in 11 different intensive care units. Mortality rates, morbidities, blood analyses, and personality traits were evaluated as primary outcomes.RESULT:Of the 259 patients followed up, mortality rates were significantly higher in men than in women (p= 0.008). No significant difference was found between the patients' daily activity, tea and coffee consumption, reading habits, smoking habits, blood groups, atopy histories and mortality rates. Examining the personal traits, it was seen that 90 people had A-type personality structure and 51 (56.7%) of them died with higher mortality rate compared to type B (p= 0.038). There was no difference between personalities, in concomitant ARDS occurrence, need for sedation and renal replacement therapies.CONCLUSIONS:Among individuals diagnosed with sepsis/septic shock, mortality increased significantly in patients with A-type personality trait compared to other personality traits. These results showed that personal traits may be useful in predicting the severity of disease and mortality in patients with sepsis/septic shock.

Objective: The defective interplay between coagulation and inflammation may be the leading cause of intravascular coagulation and organ dysfunction in coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) patients. Abnormal coagulation profiles were reported to be associated with poor outcomes. In this study, we assessed the prognostic values of antithrombin (AT) activity levels and the impact of fresh frozen plasma (FFP) treatment on outcome. Materials and Methods: Conventional coagulation parameters as well as AT activity levels and outcomes of 104 consecutive critically ill acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 disease were retrospectively analyzed. Patients with AT activity below 75% were treated with FFP. Maximum AT activity levels achieved in those patients were recorded. Results: AT activity levels at admission were significantly lower in nonsurvivors than survivors (73% vs. 81%). The cutoff level for admission AT activity was 79% and 58% was the lowest AT for survival. The outcome in those patients who had AT activity levels above 75% after FFP treatment was better than that of the nonresponding group. As well as AT, admission values of D-dimer, C-reactive protein, and procalcitonin were coagulation and inflammatory parameters among the mortality risk factors. Conclusion: AT activity could be used as a prognostic marker for survival and organ failure in COVID-19-associated ARDS patients. AT supplementation therapy with FFP in patients with COVID-19-induced hypercoagulopathy may improve thrombosis prophylaxis and thus have an impact on survival.

Abstract Objectives To evaluate the effect of adjunct treatment with Octagam, an intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) product, on clinical outcomes and biomarkers in critically ill COVID-19 patients. Methods Data from a single center was analyzed retrospectively. Patients had received preliminary standard intensive care (SIC) according to a local treatment algorithm, either alone or along with IVIG 5% at 30 g/day for 5 days. The two groups were compared regarding baseline characteristics, survival and changes in inflammation markers. Imbalance in baseline APACHE II scores was addressed by propensity score matching. Otherwise, Kaplan–Meier and multiple logistic regression models were used. Results Out of 93 patients, 51 had received IVIG and 42 had not. About 75% of patients were male and both groups had comparable body mass index and AB0 blood type distribution. IVIG-treated patients were younger (mean 65 ± 15 versus 71 ± 15 years, p = .066) and had slightly lower baseline disease scores (APACHE II: 20.6 versus 22.4, p = .281; SOFA: 5.0 versus 7.0, p = .006). Overall survival was 61% in the SIC + IVIG and 38% in the SIC only group (odds ratio: 2.2, 95% confidence interval: 0.9–5.4, p = .091 after controlling for baseline imbalances). IVIG significantly prolonged median survival time (68 versus 18 days, p = .014) and significantly reduced plasma levels of C-reactive protein (median change from baseline −71.5 versus −0.3 mg/L, p = .049). Conclusion Clinically relevant benefits through adjunct IVIG treatment in COVID-19 need to be confirmed in a randomized, controlled trial.

Toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) is a potentially life-threatening dermatologic disorder that erythema and exfoliation of the skin involve more than 30% of the body surface and usually drug related. A 68-year-old male patient who was admitted to the emergency department with the complaint of extensive bullous lesions on his skin was followed up in the intensive care unit (ICU) with the diagnosis of TEN. He had been on multiple anti-inflammatory, antibiotic and analgesic treatment for approximately 20 days due to respiratory tract infection and gout. Methylprednisolone 1 g day 1 was started after the patient's previous treatments were discontinued. The patient was connected to the mechanical ventilator on 11th day due to sepsis and respiratory mucosal involvement. Regression and epithelialisation of skin lesions started after starting cytokine filter treatment on 14th day. The cytokine filter was applied with a renal replacement therapy machine in our patient. Withdrawal of suspected drugs, maintaining an optimal electrolyte balance, sterile care of skin lesions and management in the ICU of specialised centres are essential. Although agents, such as corticosteroids, intravenous immunoglobulins and cyclosporine, are used in the treatment, we think that the use of cytokine filters will contribute to recovery by stopping the cytokine storm in these cases.

Objective: The goal of this study was to examine the effect of keeping resting heart rate below 95 bpm on oxygenation, organ function, vasopressor need and mortality in sepsis and septic shock. Materials and Methods: Patients admitted to our intensive care unit with sepsis or septic shock diagnosis between June 2015 and July 2017 were included in the study. On the other hand, patients with a history of chronic beta-blocker use, structural heart disease or permanent arrhythmia were excluded. After randomisation, patients in the study group (group BB) were given short-acting beta 1-blocker (esmolol) infusion to achieve resting heart rates between 85 and 95 bpm for 4 d. In both groups, 28-d mortality, vasopressor need and oxygenation parameters were recorded. Moreover, the results are presented as preliminary evaluation. Results: Fifty-two patients were included in the study. Further, 27 patients were in the group BB, while the remaining patients were in the control group (group NOBB). Pneumonia was the most common cause of sepsis (p>0.05). The APACHE II values in both groups were identical (p>0.05). Although the 28 d mortality rates decreased in the group BB, no statistical significance was observed due to insufficient sample size (p>0.05). The need for vasopressors also appeared to decrease on daily follow-up (p>0.05). In addition, the ratios of PaO2/FiO(2) were higher in the group BB than in the group NOBB on day 3 (p<0.05). There was no difference in invasive mechanical ventilation, non-invasive mechanical ventilation, renal replacement therapy durations and length of stay (p>0.05). Also, no cardiac adverse effects associated with the intervention were observed. Conclusion: In this pilot study, we observed that cardio-selective beta-adrenergic blockade could attenuate sepsis-related cardiac dysfunction. Decreased norepinephrine requirements and lactate levels, although not statistically significant, were consistent with a decrease in 28 d mortality rates. Despite enhanced oxygenation, mechanical ventilation durations did not vary in the group BB. In conclusion, we found that beta 1-receptor blockade had no detrimental effect on organ functions in sepsis. Moreover, it may be beneficial for cardiac and respiratory functions.