Development of an e-Nose System for the Early Diagnosis of Sepsis in Mechanically Ventilated Patients: A Preliminary Study

Sepsis is a severe condition and the major cause of mortality in the ICU. Prompt intervention decreases mortality, and non-invasive systems for early diagnosis in ICU patients are necessary. This work presents a customized e-Nose system based on non-selective chemical sensors for exhaled breath analysis. The system comprises two units: a sampling device able to collect exhaled breath from mechanically ventilated patients and an e-Nose in which the gas is analyzed. Preliminary results from a porcine model support the possibility of discriminating between healthy and sepsis subjects.