Table 2 Patients with septic shock included in the meta-analysis

Rackow et al. [13]

Patients were considered septic shock if (1) blood cultures were positive and/or an infected focus was identified, (2) systolic intra-arterial pressure of less than 90 mmHg, or a cardiac index less than 2.2 L/min.m², or a serum arterial lactate greater than 18 mg/dl, and pulmonary artery wedge pressure less than 15 mmHg.

5/7

3/4

Metildi et al. [15]

N/A

N/A

N/A

The SAFE study investigators [6]

Septic shock was defined by the presence of a defined focus of infection and at least two of the four systemic inflammatory response syndrome criteria and infection-related cardiovascular sequential organ failure assessment score of 3 or 4.

70/209

90/229

The CRISTAL study investigators [14]

Septic shock was defined by sepsis induced acute hypovolemia. Hypovolemia was defined by the combination of (1) hypotension: systolic arterial pressure of less than 90 mm Hg, mean arterial pressure of less than 60 mm Hg, orthostatic hypotension, or a delta pulse pressure of 13% or higher; (2) evidence for low filling pressures and low cardiac index as assessed either invasively or noninvasively; and (3) signs of tissue hypoperfusion or hypoxia, including at least two of the following clinical symptoms: a Glasgow coma scale score of less than 12, mottled skin, urinary output of less than 25 mL/h, or capillary refilling time of 3 seconds or longer; and arterial lactate levels higher than 2 mmol/L, blood urea nitrogen higher than 56 mg/dL, or a fractional excretion of sodium of less than 1%.

19/59 (28-day) 22/59 (90-day)

157/557 (28-day) 197/557 (90-day)

The ALBIOS study investigators [9]

Septic shock was defined by the presence of a defined focus of infection and at least two of the four systemic inflammatory response syndrome criteria and infection-related cardiovascular sequential organ failure assessment score of 3 or 4.

243/558 (90-day)

281/563 (90-day)