Help the development of the site, sharing the article with friends!

Septic shock is a rare but most dangerous complication of sepsis because it is associated with high mortality. During septic shock, there is a sharp drop in pressure and further organ hypoxia, which may lead to organ failure. Who is at risk of septic shock? What are the causes and symptoms of septic shock? What is its treatment?

What is Septic Shock?

Septic shock is the last and most dangerous stage in the development of a septic state.The first is sepsis (sepsis), i.e. the body's systemic inflammatory response to infection.

When sepsis is associated with dysfunction of at least one of the vital organs, the diagnosis is severe sepsis (also known as sepsis with organ failure). If a drop in blood pressure (hypotension) occurs in severe sepsis, it is called septic shock.

Sepsis and septic shock are estimated to kill 200,000 patients annually in the US and more than 150,000 in Europe.

Septic shock - causes

Sepsis, and then severe sepsis and septic shock, can be caused by any type of infection - bacterial, fungal or viral ( although sepsis is most often caused by bacteria), developing anywhere in the body, e.g. abdominal and systemic infections digestive system.

Risk factors for the development of sepsis and septic shock are:

  • operation;
  • staying in hospital for a long time;
  • exposure to invasive devices such as intravenous catheters or breathing tubes;
  • diabetes.

Patients are particularly exposed to sepsis and septic shock:

  • with impaired immunity (e.g. as a result of oncological treatment)
  • parenteral nutrition
  • with the drain on
  • with a vascular catheter or a catheter in the urinary bladder;
  • with a pacemaker
  • with bedsores or wounds
  • mechanically ventilated

Septic shock - symptoms

Sepsis manifests itself:

  • high temperature, above 38 degrees C or low, below 36 degrees C
  • increased heart rate (over 90 beats / minute)
  • with accelerated breathing (above 20 / min, the norm being approx.12-14 / min)

If to the above-mentioned The symptoms are accompanied by symptoms of failure of one or more essential organs or of tissue hypoperfusion (reduced blood flow through a tissue or organ), or severe sepsis. Septic shock is the occurrence of severe sepsis and hypotension.

Septic shock occurs when hypotension or hypotension occurs in severe sepsis (systolic blood pressure is less than 90 mm Hg and diastolic blood pressure is less than 60 mm Hg), not due to other factors, unresponsive for intravenous fluid administration.

Symptoms of septic shock are:

  • cold, damp skin
  • temperature above 38 degrees C or below 36 degrees C
  • increased heart rate (over 90 beats / minute)
  • rapid breathing (over 20 / min, the norm being around 12-14 / min)
  • lactic acidosis
  • oliguria, i.e. oliguria (daily urine output less than 500 ml), or anuria - despite proper hydration
  • acute disturbance of consciousness
This will be useful to you

Stages in the development of a septic state

  • systemic inflammatory reaction syndrome - SIRS
  • sepsis - SIRS + infection
  • severe sepsis - SIRS + infection + organ failure
  • septic shock - SIRS + infection + organ failure + hypotension

Septic shock - research. How to recognize a septic shock?

Septic shock gives very characteristic symptoms - usually it is on their basis that the doctor is able to make a diagnosis. To confirm it, however, specific tests must be performed.

  • blood microbiological tests
  • assessment of the degree of blood clotting (haemostasis)
  • parameters of kidney and liver function
  • blood gas, i.e. acid-base balance assessment
  • serum lactate test
  • Lung X-ray
  • computed tomography of the abdominal cavity.

Septic shock - treatment

A patient with septic shock goes to an intensive care unit, where he is administered antibiotics with a broad spectrum of action. Only after obtaining the results of the antibiogram, drugs to fight specific bacteria are used. This is all to get the infection under control.

Sometimes, in septic shock, the patient is also administered medications designed to inhibit the inflammatory response, such as human activated protein C.

In addition, intravenous fluids and, if necessary, blood products are transfused. It is also necessary to treat cardiovascular disorders (e.g. vasoconstrictors are administeredblood vessels such as noradrenaline and dopamine) and respiratory (may require connection to a ventilator).

Septic shock - prognosis

Septic shock has a high mortality rate. The direct cause of death in septic shock is multiple organs dysfunction syndrome (MODS).

Help the development of the site, sharing the article with friends!

Category:

Infectious diseases