[Sepsis and multiple organ failure - update of current therapeutic concepts]

Severe sepsis with multiple organ dysfunctions is still the leading cause of death in non-cardiac intensive care units. The incidence is expected to rise in the future due to the growing number of older and immuno-compromized patients, the use of invasive procedures, and an increase in the percentage of aggressive or resistant microorganisms. Despite the enormous investment in critical care resources, mortality of severe sepsis remaines on a high level and ranges from 28 - 50 %. Based on the disappointing experiences with anti-inflammatory strategies, we now realize that sepsis is more than just inflammation. The new therapeutic approaches take account of this more sophisticated view of pathophysiologic changes, resulting in the modulation of the coagulation in combination with an improvement of the ICU-management of organ dysfunctions. This review discusses the therapeutic concepts, reported es exciting new interventions in the ICU setting to decrease the inacceptable high mortality in patients with severe sepsis.