Suspected Hypovitaminosis in Patients with Cases of Sepsis and Septic Shock Undergoing Abdominal Surgery

Background: The effectiveness of vitamin C in sepsis and critical illnesses has not been conclusively demonstrated. Given the significant incidence of sepsis and septic shock in patients undergoing abdominal surgery, it is imperative to gather evidence on vitamin C levels in these patients. This study compared vitamin C levels between patients undergoing abdominal surgery with and without septic shock. Methods: This analytical observational study with a cross-sectional approach involved patients undergoing abdominal surgery for sepsis and septic shock who were being treated at General Hospital 'X' in East Java from March to May 2023. Blood samples were collected from the patients preoperatively. Statistical analysis was performed using the independent t-Test and the Mann-Whitney U test. Results: The 40 participants included 21 (52.5%) with sepsis and 19 (47.5%) with septic shock. The sepsis group comprised 17 (80.96%) males and 4 (19.04%) females, whereas the septic shock group included 13 (68.42%) males and 6 (31.58%) females. Most patients with sepsis had perforation of abdominal organs, accounting for 19 (90.48%) cases. In the septic shock group, perforation of the abdominal organs was observed in 11 (57.89%) patients, whereas abscesses were noted in 8 (42.11%) patients. The mean vitamin C level (μmol/L) in sepsis was 4.19 ± 3.34; in septic shock, it was 5.02 ± 3.18 (P = 0.427). Conclusions: In this study, hypovitaminosis suspicion did not demonstrate statistically significant differences between the sepsis and septic shock groups.