The Influence of the Corticus Study on Steroid Use for Septic Shock in Scottish Intensive Care Units

Abstract

The publication of the CORTICUS study in January 2008 suggested that the use of low-dose steroids in patients with septic shock did not improve survival or reversal of shock. This result contradicted results from the original trial by Annane in 2002. We carried out a telephone survey of all the intensive care units in Scotland eight weeks following the publication of the CORTICUS study, with the aim of assessing any change in practice since its publication. Prior to CORTICUS, 62% of Scottish intensive care units prescribed steroids routinely in all patients with septic shock requiring vasopressors. Eight weeks following the publication of CORTICUS, only six (25%) units had changed or planned to change their practice. Despite this relatively small change, 50% of the medical staff we questioned claimed that the CORTICUS study had affected their own individual practice.