Septic shock: pathophysiology

Sepsis and septic shock represent the systemic inflammatory response to the presence of infection with a variety of micro-organisms. The complex pathophysiology of this inflammatory response has been brought into clearer perspective during recent years, in part, related to the ability to interrupt the inflammatory cascade with the use of specific blockers or inhibitors of the individual potential mediators. Work in experimental animals, healthy human volunteers, and septic patients, has provided insight into the events that trigger and sustain the inflammatory response. Many questions persist and further work is required to fully unravel the complex interrelationships between the various components of this inflammatory cascade.