Techni Pro Institute Med Surg Lab
Med Surg Lab Homework
This week I am looking for an essay on Septic Shock.
Be sure to include signs/symptoms, diagnostic tests,
treatments, nursing care, prognosis.
What Is Septic Shock?
Septic Shock is the result of an infection and causes drastic changes in
the body. It can be extremely dangerous and potentially life-threatening.
It occurs when chemicals that fight infection by triggering inflammatory
reactions are released into the bloodstream. Doctors have identified three
stages of sepsis: Sepsis is when the infection reaches the bloodstream
and causes inflammation in the body. Severe sepsis is when the infection
is severe enough to affect the function of your organs, such as the heart,
brain, and kidneys. Septic shock is when you experience a significant
drop in blood pressure that can lead to respiratory or heart failure,
stroke, failure of other organs, and death. It is thought that the
inflammation resulting from sepsis causes tiny blood clots to form. This
can block oxygen and nutrients from reaching vital organs. The
inflammation occurs most often in older adults or those with a weakened
immune system. But both sepsis and septic shock can happen to anyone.
Septic shock is the most common cause of death in intensive care units
in the United States.
Early symptoms of sepsis should not be ignored. These include:
Fever generally higher than 101˚F (38˚C), low body temperature
(Hypothermia) fast heart rate, rapid breathing, or more than 20 breaths
per minute Severe sepsis is defined as sepsis with evidence of organ
damage that usually affects the kidneys, heart, lungs, or brain.
Symptoms of severe sepsis include: Noticeably lower amounts of urine.
acute Confusion, dizziness, severe problems breathing, bluish
discoloration of the digits or lips (Cyanosis)People who are experiencing
septic shock will experience the symptoms of severe sepsis, but they will
also have extremely low blood pressure that does not respond to fluid
replacement. Causes of septic shock includes a bacterial, fungal, or viral
infection can cause sepsis. Any of the infections may begin at home or
while you are in the hospital for treatment of another condition. Sepsis
commonly originates from: abdominal or digestive system infections,
lung infections, like pneumonia, urinary tract infection, reproductive
system infection.
If you have symptoms of sepsis, the next step is to conduct tests to
determine how far along the infection is. Diagnosis is often made with a
blood test. This type of test can determine if any of the following factors
are present: Bacteria in the blood, problems with clotting due to low
platelet count, excess waste products in the blood, abnormal liver or
kidney function, decreased amount of oxygen, electrolyte imbalance.
Depending on your symptoms and the results of the blood test, there are
other tests that a doctor may want to perform to determine the source of
your infection. These include urine test, wound secretion test if you have
an open area that looks infected, mucus secretion test to see what type of
germ is behind the infection, spinal fluid test. In cases where the source
of the infection is not clear from the tests above, a doctor could also
apply the following methods of getting an internal view of your body:
X-rays, CT Scan, ultrasound, MRI. Treatments include: The earlier
sepsis is diagnosed and treated, the more likely you are to survive. Once
sepsis is diagnosed, you will most likely be admitted to an Intensive
Care Unit (ICU) for treatment. Doctors use a few medications to treat
septic shock, including: Intravenous antibiotics to fight infection,
vasopressor medications, which are drugs that constrict blood vessels
and help increase blood pressure, Insulin for blood sugar stability,
corticosteroids. Large amounts of intravenous (IV) fluids will be
administered to treat dehydration and help increase blood pressure and
blood flow to the organs. A respirator for breathing may also be
necessary. Surgery may be performed to remove a source of infection,
such as draining a pus-filled abscess or removing infected tissue.
The nursing care plan for clients with sepsis involves eliminating
infection, maintaining adequate tissue perfusion or circulatory volume,
preventing complications, and providing information about disease
process, prognosis, and treatment needs. In taking care of a patient
with sepsis, it is imperative to re-assess hemodynamics, volume status
and tissue perfusion regularly. Tip: Frequently re-assess blood pressure,
heart rate, respiratory rate, temperature, urine output, and oxygen
saturation. Prognosis: Patients who survive severe sepsis have a higher
risk for mortality than the age-matched general population for at least 4
years. Several studies have suggested 30-day mortality rates between
30% and 50% for patients with severe sepsis or septic shock.
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