Clinical Characteristics and Risk Factors for In-Hospital Mortality in Surgical Patients With Abdominal Sepsis

Background and Aims: Abdominal sepsis refers to a severe and potentially life-threatening condition characterized by the presence of infection, inflammation, and tissue damage within the abdominal cavity. Glucocorticoids (GCs) play an important role in regulation of the host immune and inflammation responses involved in sepsis and surgery. This study aimed to investigate the potential impact of intraoperative GCs administration on the clinical outcome of surgical patients with abdominal sepsis.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study included a 1:1 propensity score-matched cohort of surgical patients afflicted with abdominal sepsis at 2 medical centers from January, 2008, through December, 2022. Patients were classified into low-GCs, high-GCs, and non-GCs groups according to the dosage of steroids used intraoperatively, and in-hospital mortality was designated as the primary outcome.

Inclusion criteria

• Meeting the Sepsis 3.0 criteria ;
• Patient's age ≥ 18 years;
• Emergency or elective abdominal surgery.

Exclusion criteria

• History of severe cardiopulmonary, hepatic, renal, or other organ damage;
• Preoperative presence of infection other than abdominal;
• Unplanned secondary surgery；
• Receiving preoperative glucocorticoid therapy.