Low exogenous lactate clearance as an early predictor of mortality in normolactatemic critically ill septic patients

Abstract

To evaluate the prognostic value of lactate clearance and lactate production in severely ill septic patients with normal or mildly elevated blood lactate concentration. Prospective, observational study. Nineteen-bed mixed medicosurgical intensive care unit. Fifty-six patients with severe sepsis and blood lactate concentration 70 yrs (odds ratio, 5.7;p = .032), and Δlact-T60 ≥0.6 mmol/L (odds ratio, 14.2;p = .042). Low lactate clearance in severely ill septic patients with normal or mildly elevated blood lactate is predictive of poor outcome independently of other known risk factors such as age and number of organ failures.