Use of etomidate in the critically ill is controversial due to its links with an inadequate response to corticotropin and potential for excess mortality. In a septic shock population, we tested the hypotheses that etomidate administration induces more non-responders to corticotropin and increases mortality and that hydrocortisone treatment decreases mortality in patients receiving etomidate. ; Journal Article ; Multicenter Study ; Randomized Controlled Trial ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't ; info:eu-repo/semantics/published