Common causes and management of septic shock in surgical practice ZHAO Gang, WU Zhi-yong. Department of General Surgery，Renji Hospital，Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medcine，Shanghai 200127,China Corresponding author: WU Zhi-yong, E-mail: zhao gang74313@yahoo.com.cn Abstract Septic shock is a common state in surgical practice and difficult to treat, with a high mortality of 50%. The common causes consist of acute obstructive suppurative cholangitis, acute peritonitis, strangulated intestinal obstruction, severe acute pancreatitis, extensive burn and abscess caused by a variety of reasons. The successful management of septic shock depends on effective perioperative treatment, appropriate timing of surgery, proper operation methods and a series of anti-shock treatment. “Damage control” should be considered throughout the therapeutic process to gain a simple and effective outcome. A thorough treatment of the lesions is not imposed.