2.0 The Role of Surgery in the Management of Septic Shock—Extra-Abdominal Causes of Sepsis

ABSTRACT
• SEPTIC SHOCK IS A SEVERE inflammatory response to one or more pathogenic micro-organisms. When a person's immune response is excessively intense, a cascade of phenomena may be activated that ultimately is harmful.
• APPROPRIATE MANAGEMENT of septic shock may include surgical intervention to remove or neutralize the septic focus in an effort to treat the inflammatory response cascade.
• THIS IS THE FIRST OF TWO articles presenting current information on the role of surgery in the management of a patient with septic shock. This article describes extra-abdominal sources of sepsis. AORN J 85 (January 2007) 137-146. © AORN, Inc, 2007.