The international surgical journal with global reach

This is the Scientific Surgery Archive, which contains all randomized clinical trials in surgery that have been identified by searching the top 50 English language medical journal issues since January 1998. Compiled by Jonothan J. Earnshaw, former Editor-in-Chief, BJS

Hydrocortisone therapy for patients with multiple trauma: the randomized controlled HYPOLYTE study. JAMA 2011; 305: 1201–1209.

Published: 7th June 2011

Authors: Roquilly A, Mahe PJ, Seguin P, Guitton C, Floch H, Tellier AC et al.

Conclusion

Some 150 patients in critical care were randomly allocated a seven day course of hydrocortisone or placebo. Six in the treatment, and four patients in the control group died (P=0.44). Hydrocortisone reduced the rate of hospital-acquired pneumonia (51.3 vs. 35.6 per cent, P=0.007), and increased the number of mechanical ventilation-free days.

Pubmed Link