[Postoperative endotoxin determination and immunoglobulin therapy of infected patients in the intensive care unit]

Seventy-four patients with septic postoperative complications were prospectively listed. Plasma-borne endotoxin was daily determined in all of them by means of the limulus-amoebocyte-lysate test. Maximum sensitivity of the test amounted to 64 per cent, related to days of illness due to severe septicaemia. The conclusion is drawn that additional parameters should be used in future studies to define sepsis, including determination of sepsis score. Endotoxin titres declined in response to immunoglobulin therapy. Lethality went down, as well.