Comparison of Early Goal-Directed Therapy versus Standard Care in Sepsis

Abstract

Background: Despite great progress in critical care management, sepsis continues to be a leading cause of morbidity and mortality globally.

Objective: To assess the effectiveness of EGDT versus standard care on clinical outcomes in those with a sepsis diagnosis.

Materials and Methods: A randomized controlled trial was done at Medicine Department, Saidu Group of Teaching Hospital, Pakistan, between September 2025 to February 2026. A total of 120 adult patients diagnosed with sepsis were enrolled and equally divided into two groups. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 26.

Results: The clinical characteristics at the beginning were similar for both groups. The EGDT group demonstrated significantly improved mean arterial pressure (72.4 ± 6.5 mmHg vs 68.2 ± 7.1 mmHg), higher lactate clearance (38.5% vs 26.9%), shorter ICU stay (6.4 ± 2.1 days vs 8.2 ± 3.0 days), and lower septic shock progression (18.3% vs 36.7%). There was significantly less mortality in the EGDT group (13.3%) than in the standard care group (28.3%).

Conclusion: Early Goal-Directed Therapy was found to be effective compared to standard care in achieving physiologic stabilization, preventing complications, and reducing mortality in sepsis patients.