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Hi, it’s Patrik Hutzel from INTENSIVECAREHOTLINE.COM where we instantly improve the lives for Families of critically ill Patients in Intensive Care, so that you can make informed decisions, have PEACE OF MIND, real power, real control and so that you can influence decision making fast, even if you’re not a doctor or a nurse in Intensive Care!
This is another episode of “YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED” and in last week’s podcast I interviewed one of our clients as part of our testimonial and interview series.
PODCAST: My Sister had a Heart Attack and Sustained a Brain Injury. Is this the End of Life for Her?
You can check out last week’s question by clicking on the link here.
In this week’s episode of “YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED” I want to answer questions from one of my clients as part of my 1:1 consulting and advocacy service!
WHAT IS SEPSIS?
- Sepsis is the body’s extreme response to an infection. It is a life-threatening medical emergency.
- Sepsis happens when an infection you already have —in your skin, blood, lungs, urinary tract, or somewhere else—triggers a chain reaction throughout your body.
- Without timely treatment, sepsis can rapidly lead to tissue damage, organ failure, and death.
- Severe cases of sepsis can lead to septic shock, which is a medical emergency.
Anyone can get sepsis, but the risk is higher in
- People with weakened immune system
- Infants and children
- The elderly
- People with chronic illnesses, such as diabetes, AIDS, cancer, and kidney or liver disease
- People suffering from a severe burn or physical trauma
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF SEPSIS?
There are three stages of sepsis: sepsis, severe sepsis, and septic shock. Sepsis can happen while you’re still in the hospital recovering from a procedure, but this isn’t always the case.
SEPSIS
- a fever above 101ºF (38ºC) or a temperature below 96.8ºF (36ºC)
- heart rate higher than 90 beats per minute
- breathing rate higher than 20 breaths per minute
- probable or confirmed infection
SEVERE SEPSIS
- changes in mental ability
- low platelet (blood clotting cells) count
- abnormal heart functions
- chills due to fall in body temperature
- unconsciousness
SEPTIC SHOCK
Symptoms of septic shock include the symptoms of severe sepsis, plus a very low blood pressure.
Conventional hemodynamic monitoring in septic shock pertains to invasive, mostly continuous measurements of arterial blood pressure and pressures in the lesser circulation (central venous, pulmonary arterial and capillary wedge pressures) and to intermittent determinations of cardiac output. In order to obtain the latter variables, insertion of a thermistor, balloon tipped pulmonary artery catheter is required.
WHAT CAUSES SEPSIS?
- abdominal infection
Possible reasons for the increase of incidence of sepsis include:
- an aging population, because sepsis is more common in seniors
- an increase in antibiotic resistance, which happens when an antibiotic loses its ability to resist or kill bacteria
- an increase in the number of people with illnesses that weaken their immune systems
WHO ARE AT RISK FOR SEPSIS?
Although some people have a higher risk of infection, anyone can get sepsis. People who are at risk include:
- young children and seniors
- people with weaker immune systems, such as those with HIV or those in chemotherapy treatment for cancer
- people being treated in an intensive care unit (ICU)
- people exposed to invasive devices, such as intravenous catheters or breathing tubes
HOW IS SEPSIS DIAGNOSED?
If you have symptoms of sepsis, your doctor will order tests to make a diagnosis and determine the severity of your infection.
One of the first tests is a blood test. Your blood is checked for complications like:
- infection
- clotting problems
- abnormal liver or kidney function
- decreased amount of oxygen
- an imbalance in minerals called electrolytes that affect the amount of water in your body as well as the acidity of your blood
Depending on your symptoms and the results of your blood test, your doctor may order other tests, including:
- a urine test (to check for bacteria in your urine)
- a wound secretion test (to check an open wound for an infection)
- a mucus secretion test (to identify germs responsible for an infection)
If your doctor can’t determine the source of an infection using the above tests, they may order an internal view of your body using one of the following:
- X-rays to view the lungs
- CT scans to view possible infections in the appendix, pancreas, or bowel area
- ultrasounds to view infections in the gallbladder or ovaries
- MRI scans, which can identify soft tissue infections
HOW IS SEPSIS TREATED?
Sepsis can quickly progress to septic shock and death if it’s left untreated. Doctors use a number of medications to treat sepsis, including:
- antibiotics via IV to fight infection
- inotropes/vasoactive medications to increase blood pressure
- insulin to stabilize blood sugar
- corticosteroids/steroids to reduce inflammation
- painkillers
Severe sepsis may also require large amounts of IV fluids and a respirator for breathing. Dialysis might be necessary if the kidneys are affected. Kidneys help filter harmful wastes, salt, and excess water from the blood. In dialysis, a machine performs these functions.
In some cases, surgery may be needed to remove the source of an infection. This includes draining a pus-filled abscess or removing infected tissue.
SEPSIS PREVENTION
Taking steps to prevent the spread of infection can reduce your risk of developing sepsis. These include:
- Staying up to date on your vaccinations. Get vaccinated for the flu, pneumonia, and other infections.
- Practicing good hygiene. This means practicing proper wound care, handwashing, and bathing regularly.
- Getting immediate care if you develop signs of infection. Every minute counts when it comes to sepsis treatment. The sooner you get treatment, the better the outcome.
REFERENCES:
How can you become the best advocate for your critically ill loved one, make informed decisions, get peace of mind, control, power and influence quickly, whilst your loved one is critically ill in Intensive Care?
You get to that all important feeling of making informed decisions, get PEACE OF MIND, CONTROL, POWER AND INFLUENCE when you download your FREE “INSTANT IMPACT” report NOW by entering your email below!
In Your FREE “INSTANT IMPACT” report you’ll learn quickly how to make informed decisions, get PEACE OF MIND, real power and real control and how you can influence decision making fast, whilst your loved one is critically ill in Intensive Care! Your FREE “INSTANT IMPACT” Report gives you in-depth insight that you must know whilst your loved one is critically ill or is even dying in Intensive Care!
Sign up and download your FREE “INSTANT IMPACT” REPORT now by entering your email below! In your FREE “INSTANT IMPACT” REPORT you’ll learn how to speak the “secret” Intensive Care language so that the doctors and the nurses know straight away that you are an insider and that you know and understand what’s really happening in Intensive Care! In your FREE report you’ll also discover
- How to ask the doctors and the nurses the right questions
- Discover the many competing interests in Intensive Care and how your critically ill loved one’s treatment may depend on those competing interests
- How to eliminate fear, frustration, stress, struggle and vulnerability even if your loved one is dying
- 5 mind blowing tips & strategies helping you to get on the right path to making informed decisions, get PEACE OF MIND, control, power and influence in your situation
- You’ll get real world examples that you can easily adapt to your and your critically ill loved one’s situation
- How to stop being intimidated by the Intensive Care team and how you will be seen as equals
- You’ll get crucial ‘behind the scenes’ insight so that you know and understand what is really happening in Intensive Care
- How you need to manage doctors and nurses in Intensive Care (it’s not what you think)
Thank you for tuning into this week’s YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED episode and I’ll see you again in another update next week!
Make sure you also check out our “blog” section for more tips and strategies or send me an email to [email protected] with your questions!
Also, have a look at our membership site INTENSIVECARESUPPORT.ORG for families of critically ill Patients in Intensive Care here.
Or you can call us! Find phone numbers on our contact tab.
Also check out our Ebook section where you get more Ebooks, Videos and Audio recordings and where you can also get 1:1 counselling/consulting with me via Skype, over the phone or via email by clicking on the products tab!
This is Patrik Hutzel from INTENSIVECAREHOTLINE.COM and I’ll see you again next week with another update!