Quality of life, morbidity, and mortality after surgical intensive care: a follow-up study of patients treated for abdominal sepsis in the surgical intensive care unit.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the long-term outcome of patients treated in the surgical intensive care unit (SICU) for abdominal sepsis.

DESIGN

Retrospective study.

SETTING

University hospital, Sweden.

SUBJECTS

210 consecutive patients treated for abdominal sepsis in the SICU at Lund University Hospital during the period January 1983 to December 1995.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Background information, morbidity, and mortality. Follow-up of surviving patients with interview and completion of a quality of life (QoL) assessment. Information collected postmortem from the registers of the Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare.

RESULTS

At follow-up, 45 patients of the 151 who survived the initial hospital stay had died, 41 were lost to follow up and 16 chose not to participate in the study; 49 patients completed the study. Median QoL scores were significantly impaired (p < 0.01) although subjective QoL did not change significantly. In-hospital mortality was 28% (59/210) and total mortality over the time period 50% (104/210).

CONCLUSION

Most patients who survived after treatment of abdominal sepsis in the SICU regained good health and their functional status was restored. Subjective QoL remained unchanged.