Septic shock is one of the most severe complications of any infection. It affects millions of people each year. Studies show that in the U.S. and Europe, nearly 10% of patients admitted to the ICU have septic shock. Significant efforts have been made to recognise and treat septic shock early. Still, over 50% of patients die of septic shock within days or weeks after diagnosis. Thus, there is a need for new therapeutic approaches to limit the incidence of multiple organ failure due to septic shock and improve the prognosis of this disease.
In latest research presented at ESICM LIVES 2022 in Paris, Martin Cour (Lyon, France) discussed the findings from the Remote Conditioning in Septic Shock (RECO-Sepsis) trial. The study was conducted to determine whether remote ischaemic conditioning (RECO) limits the severity and the consequences of multiple organ failure in patients with septic shock compared to standard care.
Six intensive care units in France participated in the trial. The study included 180 adult patients with septic shock. Study participants were randomised to receive RECO applied by inflating/deflating four times a cuff around an arm within 12 h after the onset of septic shock or a sham procedure every 12 h for 24 h.
The primary endpoint of the study was the severity of multiple organ failure assessed by the SOFA score from inclusion to day 4. All study patients were followed for 90 days.
Findings did not show any significant difference in the mean daily SOFA score between the intervention group and the control group. Cumulative mortality within 90 days was 27.6% in the RECO group and 39.6% in the control group.