Luminal concentrations of L- and D-lactate in the rectum may relate to severity of disease and outcome in septic patients

Table 2 Clinical variables for non-surviving and surviving septic patients at baseline and after four hours

	Non-survivors^a (n = 11)		Survivors^a (n = 12)
	Baseline	Four hours	Baseline	Four hours
Heart rate (beats per minute)	96 (59 to 121)	92 (65 to 126)	100 (63 to 121)	100 (68 to 120)
Mean arterial pressure (mm Hg)	75 (62 to 90)^b	76 (64 to 97)	87 (71 to 108)	83 (56 to 103)
Noradrenaline dose^c (μg/kg per minute)	0.20 (0.06 to 0.44)	0.24 (0.02 to 0.60)	0.37 (0.04 to 1.7)	0.37 (0.04 to 1.6)
Plasma L-lactate^d (mmol/l)	2.4 (1 to 3.8)	2.7 (1.1 to 6.2)	1.5 (0.5 to 3.6)	1.5 (0.6 to 2.9)
Arterial pH	7.35 (7.28 to 7.48)	7.32 (7.22 to 7.38)	7.33 (7.20 to 7.48)	7.34 (7.21 to 7.46)

Values are given as means (ranges). ^aSurvival analysis based on data at day 28 after study. ^bP < 0.05 compared with baseline values in survivors. ^cNine patients in the non-surviving group and seven in the surviving group received noradrenaline. ^dValues from ABL blood gas autoanalyser (Radiometer, Copenhagen, Denamrk).

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