Therapeutic Plasma Exchange in Adult Patients With Severe Sepsis

The incidence of sepsis (severe infection) has increased over the last four decades. Severe sepsis and septic shock are among the leading causes of death for patients admitted to critical care units with mortality ranging from 20-70% depending on totality of organ dysfunction. Outside of antibiotics and good bedside care, little has changed in the management of this life-threatening problem. Therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) involves the separation of plasma from whole blood. The removed plasma is 'exchanged or replaced' with either IV fluids, albumin, blood products or a combination thereof. The primary objective of this study is to evaluate the safety of the TPE intervention protocol within 24 hours of study criteria being met. TPE is now a well-established program at the South Health Campus for neuro-muscular disorders. Since starting in May 2018, the investigators have performed over 150 runs making the SHC ICU one of the most experienced centers in Canada.