Blood Purification and Mortality in Sepsis and Septic Shock: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Trials

Among patients with sepsis or septic shock, a variety of extracorporeal blood purification techniques are availableIndividual existing trials evaluating these options are underpowered to provide clear evidence WHAT THIS PAPER TELLS US THAT IS NEW: Meta-analysis of very low-quality randomized controlled trial evidence demonstrates a potential benefit of hemoperfusion, hemofiltration, or plasmapheresisAdditional high-quality trials demonstrating benefit in modern clinical practice are needed before recommending these therapies BACKGROUND:: Sepsis and septic shock are severe inflammatory conditions related to high morbidity and mortality. We performed a systematic review with meta-analysis of randomized trials to assess whether extracorporeal blood purification reduces mortality in this setting.