Evaluation of the role of hydrocortisone either alone or combined with fludrocortisone in the outcome of septic shock in adults.

Background: Management of sepsis is a time critical procedure; the consequences of improperly managed sepsis and septic shock can cause multiple organ dysfunction and death. The aim of this study was to evaluate of the role of hydrocortisone either alone or with fludrocortisone on the outcome septic shock in adults. This study was conducted on 66 patients who were assigned randomly to 3 groups each containing 22 patients. Control group had received standard therapy for sepsis, and H group had received standard therapy for sepsis plus hydrocortisone. HF group had received standard therapy for sepsis plus hydrocortisone and fludrocortisone. Results: It showed that the use of corticosteroids (the hydrocortisone or the hydrocortisone plus fludrocortisone) in septic patients was associated with significant reduction in the time to wean from vasopressors and length of intensive care unit stay. Meanwhile, there were no significant effect of the mortality rate, Sepsis-Related Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score reduction, gastrointestinal bleeding, and superinfection as corticosteroids adverse effects between the three groups. Conclusions: The corticosteroids in septic shock have significant positive impacts on some aspects in treatment of septic shock but it does not affect the mortality rate of the patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]