Many ICU patients with severe sepsis who developed prolonged mental status changes and neurological sequelae showed signs of brain atrophy. Patients with rapidly progressive brain atrophy were more likely to have required mechanical ventilation.

Analysis of all 42 cases in the brain atrophy group showed a significant decrease in brain volume.

The mean percentage change in brain volume between CT scans in the brain atrophy group was –3.7% over a median of 31 days, which is equivalent to a brain volume of 38.5 cm3.

The proportion of cases on mechanical ventilation were significantly higher in the brain atrophy group than in the no brain atrophy group.

Patients with sepsis admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU) and who underwent at least two head CT scans during hospitalization were included (n = 48).

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