Research trends and hotspots on septic shock: a bibliometric study and visualization analysis

Area of Science:

• Critical Care Medicine
• Infectious Diseases
• Pathophysiology

Background:

• Septic shock, a severe sepsis complication, involves circulatory failure and metabolic abnormalities impacting prognosis and mortality.
• Despite extensive research, clear trends and hotspots in septic shock studies are not well-defined.
• This study utilizes bibliometric analysis to visualize knowledge and identify research frontiers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To create a visual knowledge map of septic shock research.
• To identify current research hotspots and emerging trends in the field.
• To provide a reference for future septic shock studies.

Main Methods:

• Bibliometric analysis of 4,208 English publications from Web of Science Core Collection up to June 2023.
• Utilized CiteSpace, VOS viewer, and Pathfinder for data analysis.
• Evaluated publication trends, country/institution contributions, author collaborations, and keyword co-occurrence.

Main Results:

• Annual publications show a slow upward trend, with the US, France, and Germany leading in volume.
• University of Pittsburgh and Jeanlouis Vincent were identified as highly productive institutions and authors, respectively.
• Key research hotspots include "septic shock," "sepsis," and "mortality," with emerging trends in pathobiology, fluid therapy, and endotoxic septic shock.

Conclusions:

• Bibliometric analysis reveals key research areas and collaborations in septic shock.
• Identified research frontiers include pathogenesis, biomarkers, treatment timing/methods, and rehabilitation.
• This study offers valuable insights for future research directions in septic shock management.