RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
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
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and the British Association for Accident & Emergency Medicine
SP 422
OP 422
DO 10.1136/emj.2007.046060
VO 24
IS 6
A1 Narani Sivayoham
YR 2007
UL http://emj.bmj.com/content/24/6/422.abstract
AB 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.