Pathogenesis and Cerebrovascular Manifestations of Septic Encephalopathy

Septic encephalopathy is an important complication of sepsis. Why some patients with sepsis develop septic encephalopathy is unknown. We will investigate whether patients who develop this condition have different patterns of cerebrovascular reactivity and whether it is possible to predict the development of septic encephalopathy from early measurements of cerebral perfusion or from the EEG. We will specifically test the hypotheses that septic encephalopathy may not be predicted by changes in the EEG, and that cerebrovascular autoregulation is not dysfunctional in septic encephalopathy.