Background: Sepsis is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality after surgery. Most studies
regarding sepsis do not differentiate between patients who have had recent surgery and
those without. Few data exist regarding the risk factors for poor outcomes in pediatric
postsurgical sepsis. Our hypothesis is pediatric postsurgical, and medical patients with
severe sepsis have unique risk factors for mortality.
Methods: Data were extracted from a secondary analysis of an international point preva-
lence study of pediatric severe sepsis. Sites included 128 pediatric intensive care units from
26 countries. Pediatric patients with severe sepsis were categorized into those who had
recent surgery (postsurgical sepsis) versus those that did not (medical sepsis) before sepsis
onset. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to determine risk factors for
mortality.
Results: A total of 556 patients were included: 138 with postsurgical and 418 with medical
sepsis. In postsurgical sepsis, older age, admission from the hospital ward, multiple organ
dysfunction syndrome at sepsis recognition, and cardiovascular and respiratory comor-
bidities were independent risk factors for death. In medical sepsis, resource-limited region,
hospital-acquired infection, multiple organ dysfunction syndrome at sepsis recognition,
higher Pediatric Index of Mortality-3 score, and malignancy were independent risk factors
for death.
Conclusions: Pediatric patients with postsurgical sepsis had different risk factors for mor-
tality compared with medical sepsis. This included a higher mortality risk in postsurgical
patients presenting to the intensive care unit from the hospital ward. These data suggest
an opportunity to develop and test early warning systems specific to pediatric sepsis in the
postsurgical population.