2.2. Eligibility
Eligible adult patients signed informed consent forms before they were enrolled in this randomized controlled trial. Written informed consent was obtained from all participants. Inclusion criteria included patient age of 18 to 85 years, with a diagnosis of severe sepsis or septic shock according to the diagnostic standards of the 2012 severe sepsis and septic shock treatment international guidelines. Exclusion criteria were as follows: (1) hypovolemic shock, cardiogenic shock, distributive shock, or obstructive shock; (2) pregnancy or lactation in female patients; (3) patient allergy to safflower yellow; (4) current patient enrollment in other medical research; (5) severe disease of the liver and/or kidney.
All participants were informed about the two methods to be used in this trial including conventional therapy according to the international guidelines for management of severe sepsis and septic shock 2012 (control group) and conventional therapy plus safflower yellow treatment (study group).