Multiple Organ Failure: Clinical Syndrome

摘要: Multiple organ failure (MOF) is the leading cause of death in intensive care units. First described some 30 years ago [1, 2], MOF was originally thought to be due presence uncontrolled infection. More recently, we have begun realize that while infection can, and often does, play an important role, it only one many factors involved. Indeed, not isolated disease process, but rather a clinical syndrome with different patients demonstrating combinations severity dysfunction; as such, difficult define describe. In this chapter, will briefly describe recent advances characterizing assessing unit (ICU) population.