This Article  • References  • Full text PDF  • Send to a friend  • Save in My Folder  • Save to citation manager  • Permissions  Citing Articles  • Citation map  • Citing articles on HighWire  • Citing articles on Web of Science (56)  • Contact me when this article is cited  Related Content  • Similar articles in this journal  Social Bookmarking   What's this?

LTC Victor A. Ferraris, MC, USA

Arch Surg. 1983;118(10):1130-1133.

Abstract
•We studied 29 patients with multiple-organ failure (MOF) who underwent exploratory laparotomy because of suspected intra-abdominal sepsis. The purpose was to identify predictors of continuing abdominal sepsis and to assess outcome of operation in these severely ill patients. The strongest predictor of continuing intra-abdominal sepsis was development of unexplained single-organ failure, which occurred in 17 patients. Physical findings were not a totally reliable indicator of abdominal sepsis since only 15 of 29 patients had acute abdominal findings. The main clue to sepsis in patients with-out acute abdominal findings was worsening organ failure. Fifteen of 29 patients died of continuing MOF. Only one patient older than 50 years survived. We suggest that earlier operation is indicated in certain patients with organ failure. Particularly aggressive operative therapy seems justified in young patients with unexplained single-organ failure or worsening MOF.

(Arch Surg 1983;118:1130-1133)

Author Affiliations
From the General Surgery Service, Fitzsimons Army Medical Center, Aurora, Colo, Dr Ferraris is now with the Thoracic Surgical Service, Letterman Army Hospital, Presidio of San Francisco.

Footnotes
Accepted for publication April 29, 1983.

The opinions or assertions contained herein are the private view of the author and are not to be construed as official or as reflecting the view of the Department of the Army or the Department of Defense.

Reprint requests to Thoracic Surgical Service, Letterman Army Hospital, Presidio of San Francisco, CA 94129 (Dr Ferraris).

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter     What's this?

THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES

Laparoscopy for the Acute Abdomen
Cosgrove et al.
SURG INNOV 1996;3:131-134.
ABSTRACT  

Posttraumatic Multisystem Organ Failure
DeCamp and Demling
JAMA 1988;260:530-534.
ABSTRACT  

Multiple-Organ-Failure Syndrome
Carrico et al.
Arch Surg 1986;121:196-208.
ABSTRACT