TY - JOUR T1 - Management of severe sepsis and septic shock in the emergency department: a survey of current practice in emergency departments in England JF - Emergency Medicine Journal JO - Emerg Med J SP - 422 LP - 422 DO - 10.1136/emj.2007.046060 VL - 24 IS - 6 AU - Narani Sivayoham Y1 - 2007/06/01 UR - http://emj.bmj.com/content/24/6/422.abstract N2 - Aim: To identify the extent to which emergency departments (EDs) in England are involved in the initiation of the pathway to early goal-directed therapy (EGDT) in patients with severe sepsis and septic shock. Method: A survey of 173 EDs in England was carried out over a 2-month period starting in March 2006. Results: 117 (67.6%) departments responded. 22 (18.8%) departments satisfied the following criteria: had a strategy to identify these patients, measured lactate, had a written protocol including EGDT and provided training for their staff. A further 10 (8.5%) EDs were working on initiating the pathway to EGDT. Conclusion: 18.8% of EDs in England are able to initiate the pathway to EGDT in patients with severe sepsis and septic shock. ER -