In 2006, Critical Care provided important and clinically relevant research data in the field of multiple organ failure, sepsis, and shock. This review summarizes the results of the experimental studies and clinical trials and discusses them in the context of the relevant scientific and clinical background.

As the support and stabilization of organ function is a major goal of treatment in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), changes in the function of organ systems are an important indicator of the progression of the disease and recovery. This paper presents how to construct a model that describes changes in organ failure of ICU patients on a day-to-day basis. The model is based on the daily Sequential ...

1 Therapeutic interventions aimed at preventing MODS The terms multiple organ failure syndrome (MOFS), multiple systems organ failure (MSOF) and, most recently, multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) have all been used to describe ‘irreversible shock’ and organ failure. Summarised the causes of irreversible shock are: (1) Haemorrhage uncomplicated by gross trauma; (2) burns; (3) trauma to l...

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the posttraumatic course of several inflammatory mediators or markers (complement components C3, C3a, terminal complement complex, thromboxane B2, C-reactive protein, elastase, and neopterin) in relation to the development of multiple organ failure and mortality. DESIGN Prospective study of a selected patient group. SETTING Surgical intensive care units in three Europe...

BACKGROUND Currently, there are no biomarkers that can predict the incidence of dengue shock and/or organ failure, although the early identification of risk factors is important in determining appropriate management to reduce mortality. Therefore, we sought to determine the factors associated with dengue shock and/or organ failure and to evaluate the prognostic value of serum procalcitonin (PCT...

BACKGROUND It is not known whether lack of recognition of organ failure explains the low compliance with the "Surviving Sepsis Campaign" (SSC) guidelines. We evaluated whether compliance was higher in emergency department (ED) sepsis patients with clinically recognizable signs of organ failure compared to patients with only laboratory signs of organ failure. METHODS Three hundred twenty-three...