Decoding Sepsis: Unveiling the Secrets of Arterial Blood Gas Analysis in Septic Patients - A Prospective Study

Background: Sepsis is one of the top causes of hospital-related mortality worldwide, and tropical countries bear a significant portion of the burden. Arterial Blood Gas Analysis (ABGA) is an essential investigation for sepsis patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) because it reveals the acid-base status and electrolyte levels, and this study aims to assess the ABGA parameters of sepsis patients and their relationship with mortality. Methodology: A prospective observational study was conducted on 100 patients over the age of 18 who had sepsis in a tertiary care center’s ICU. Each patient underwent a microbiological examination to isolate the causal pathogen, and all individuals received an APACHE II score. The relationship between the end outcome and the ABGA parameters, MODS, and APACHE II score was calculated. Results: The majority of patients were older than 60, with a male preponderance. Twenty-six percent of individuals had MODS, and 61.53% died. Gram-negative bacteria were the most common cause, with Klebsiella infecting 22% of sepsis patients. The two most prevalent acid-base diseases were primary respiratory alkalosis with secondary metabolic acidosis and primary metabolic acidosis with secondary respiratory alkalosis. Conclusions: Tropical sepsis is a condition unique to nations such as India, and it demands special attention since it differs from non-tropical sepsis in terms of pCO2, bicarbonate level, and anion gap. The onset of MODS and a rising APACHE II score were independent predictors of mortality in these patients.