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Researchers performed a meta-analysis to assess the effects of single-dose etomidate used for rapid sequence intubation (RSI) on the adrenal axis and mortality in septic patients. They included only studies that were randomized or prospective observational, had a control group, and reported data on mortality and adrenal insufficiency as determined by cosyntropin stimulation testing. Ten studies involving a total of 1623 patients were included in the analysis; of these, five evaluated mortality (865 patients) and seven evaluated adrenal insufficiency (1303 patients). Of the five mortality studies, only two included patients who were randomized to etomidate versus an alternative agent — neither showed a mortality difference. Of the three stud…