Pituitary Function After Recovery From Septic Shock Among ICU Survivors

Prolonged circulatory shock is associated with marked disturbances in vascular supply to the brain, and endothelial dysfunction which can lead to disseminated intravascular coagulation and microvascular thrombosis. Pituitary dysfunction is documented following post-partum hemorrhage, traumatic brain injury and subarachnoid hemorrhage, which also affect blood flow to the pituitary. However, there are no studies assessing pituitary function in the aftermath of recovery from shock. This will be a prospective observational study of patients admitted in Critical Care Medicine (CCM) ICU who have recovered from prolonged septic shock (Lasting for a period of \> 24 hours). Blood samples of the participants will be estimated at the time of discharge from the ICU and at 6 months post discharge. Investigators will estimate fasting serum cortisol, TSH, Free T4, Testosterone (in males), Oestrogen (in females), LH, FSH, Prolactin, IGF-1 and plasma ACTH in all participants at both time points (at the time of ICU discharge and at 6-months follow-up). Participants who have borderline serum cortisol values (138-400 nmol/l) will be subjected to 250ug ACTH stimulation test. Expected outcome of the proposed study is to know proportion of patients having pituitary hormone axis dysfunction. Investigators will also look for pituitary dysfunction persist or revert, or there are new onset dysfunction at 6 month follow up. This would have major implications in the follow up and management of ICU survivors.