severe sepsis and surgery Severe sepsis is a common condition, increasing in incidence and mortality. Despite it has always been part of the surgeon's clinical practice, severe sepsis of surgical origin remains difficult to manage. Decisions about initial resuscitation, timing of source control, surgical technique and antimicrobial therapy are challenging. The goal of this review is to ensure surgeons and other health professionals are aware of diagnostic and treatment choices actually recommended in order to reduce the high mortality of surgical severe sepsis.