Table 1 Baseline characteristics

Age, yrs

62(42-74)

Gender, male/female, n

8/6

Source of sepsis, n

   Lung

4

   Abdomen

7

   Urinary tract

1

   Skin and soft tissues

2

Hospital mortality, n(%)

8(57)

ICU length of stay, days

5(3-11)

APACHE II score

20(14-26)

SOFA score

8(5-10)

Vasopressors, n

12

   Dopamine, n; μg/kg per min

5; 8.0(5.5-9.0)

   Norepinephrine, n; μg/kg per min

9; 0.12(0.06-0.23)

Mechanical ventilation, n

13

   PEEP, cm H2O

5(5-5)

   FIO2, %

55(50-55)

Total magnesium, mEq/l

0.90(0.75-0.99)

Potassium, mEq/l

4.1(3.7-4.4)

Hematocrit, %

30(27-36)