PI's add. responsibilities and time commitment prevent him from completing trial

The purpose of this study is to determine the effectiveness of high doses of Vitamin C in critically ill patients.

It has been shown that the stress that occurs during trauma, infection and/or shock depletes many of the body's resources such as Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) which may contribute to further complications. The purpose of this study is to determine the effectiveness of high doses of Vitamin C in critically ill patients.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Activation of the Mass Transfusion Protocol following surgery or trauma.
• Diagnosis of septic shock. Septic shock will be defined as sepsis induced hypotension (i.e. systolic blood pressure <90mmHg or drop of systolic blood pressure >40mmHg in the presence of infection) that does not respond to a 2 liter fluid bolus.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Age less than 18 years.
• Pregnant women.
• Creatinine of greater than 2.2 g/dl at time of enrollment, history of chronic kidney or end stage renal disease, rise in creatinine > 1 g/dl within 24 hours prior to enrollment.
• Brain death diagnosed within 4 hours of presentation to the trauma bay or intensive care unit
• Patients with history of hemolytic blood disease, e.g. glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency, Sickle Cell Disease and Thalassemia.
• Patients in isolated cardiogenic shock.
• History of liver cirrhosis
• Transplant patients (liver, kidney, heart)

Subjects will be randomized to receive high dose Vitamin C or placebo for 24 hours. The study team will follow the subjects and collect data through hospital discharge or 28 days whichever occurs first.

Early termination leading to small number of subjects analyzed