Table 1. Patients Characteristics at the Time of Study Inclusion
Values are mean ± SD. Pneumonia was defined as the presence of an infiltrate on chest radiograph, plus any three of (I) purulent endotracheal aspirate, (II) known pathogens on a Gram stain, or cultured from sputum or blood, (III) temperature > 38.5°C or < 36°C, (IV) white blood cell count (WBC) > 12 × 103/ul or less than 3.5 × 103/ul, or 20% immature forms;Sepsis was defined as the presence of two or more of: (I) core temperature > 38.5°C or < 36°C, (II) WBC > 12 × 103/ul or less than 3.5 × 103, or 20 % immature forms, (III) one blood culture of a common pathogen, (IV) a strongly suspected site of infection from which a known pathogen was cultured, (V) gross pus in a closed space; and one or more of (I) systemic arterial hypertension for at least 2 hours (systolic blood pressure < 85 mmHg, or reduction > 40 mmHg from baseline, or need for inotropes to maintain systolic blood pressure > 85 mmHg), (II) systemic vascular resistance less than 800 dyn · s −1· cm−1, (III) unexplained metabolic acidosis (base deficit > 5 mEq/l);Multiple trauma was defined as the presence of fractures of two or more major long bones, an unstable pelvic fracture, or one major long bone fracture and a major pelvic fracture.M/F = male/female; ARDS = acute respiratory distress syndrome; Pao2= arterial oxygen tension; Fio2= oxygen inspiratory fraction.