Abstract 15051: Left Ventricular Dilatation Improves Survival in Patients with Severe Sepsis

OBJECTIVE: The hallmark of sepsis-induced myocardial dysfunction is the development of acute left ventricular (LV) dysfunction, with a normal or increased cardiac output. This preservation of cardiac output may be the result of LV dilatation, a potentially adaptive response. Few human observational studies have reported variable incidence of such dilatation, and this has been associated with improved survival in a murine model. We sought to determine the potential association between LV end diastolic diameter (LVEDD) and survival in patients with severe sepsis. METHODS: This is a nested case control study from a retrospective cohort analysis of hospitalized patients admitted for severe sepsis over a one year period at two tertiary hospitals of the Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, New York. The inclusion criterion was patients admitted with severe sepsis based on the ICD-9 codes indicative of infection concurrent with new onset organ dysfunction who were admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU). The prima...