Abdominal sepsis in the surgical intensive care unit: a follow up study on quality of life, morbidity and mortality

Surgical intensive care consumes considerable facilities and the associated costs are high. The present study aimed at evaluating longterm outcome of patients treated due to abdominal sepsis in the surgical intensive care unit from January 1983 to December 1995 by a follow-up from June to August 1997 of patients surviving the hospital stay. The patients were interviewed by telephone and also completed a 'quality-of-life' form. Out of 210 patients (mean age 65 years) 151 survived the hospital stay. At follow-up, another 45 patients were deceased, 41 patients were not reached and another 17 patients declined to participate. Thus, the follow-up included 48 patients. At discharge from hospital, 54% of the patients returned directly home and 67% returned to their regular work after a median sick-leave of 10 weeks. When comparing a quality-of-life score, an impairment of median scores (P < 0.01) was found, although the patients subjectively appreciated quality of life not to have changed significantly, 49% claimed full recovery. Hospital mortality was 28% attributable to multiple organ dysfunction and total mortality over the time period was 50% and rarely associated with abdominal sepsis. Thus, recovery following abdominal sepsis treated in the surgical intensive care unit is good and motivates efforts performed during the acute phase.