Background: Sepsis and septic shock result from a dysregulated immune response to infection, carrying high mortality. Current treatments focus on infection control and hemodynamic stabilization, yet adjuvant therapies to improve outcomes are urgently needed. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of early hydrocortisone and vitamin-C combination therapy versus hydrocortisone alone in septic shock patients.
Methods: In a prospective, randomized, double-blind controlled trial, 120 septic shock patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) were randomly assigned to receive hydrocortisone alone (Group-I) or hydrocortisone with vitamin-C (Group-II). Vasopressor requirements within 24 hours were recorded as the primary outcome. Hemodynamic parameters, laboratory markers, Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA), duration on mechanical ventilation, ICU stay length, and 28-day mortality were recorded as secondary outcomes.
Results: Both groups showed insignificant difference regarding the dose and duration of vasopressors use after 24h. SOFA at day-three and mechanical ventilation duration were significantly improved in Group-II (P=0.012 and P=0.002) than Group-I. Heart rate, central venous pressure, and temperature were reduced significantly in both groups, while mean arterial pressure increasing significantly after 24 hours (P