Critical care
Septic shock is the most severe result of sepsis – an overreaction from the immune system to bacterial, fungal or viral infection. As with other acute conditions, time is of the essence when it comes to treatment. But if a patient goes into septic shock, their chances of survival are slashed dramatically. It’s for this reason researchers still seek novel treatment options to improve mortality. Kim Thomas speaks to Neill Adhikari, an intensivist at Sunnybrook Sciences Centre at the University of Toronto, and Anders Perner, senior staff specialist and professor in intensive care at Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, to explore some of the latest potential treatments and discover how septic shock is currently managed.
epsis, which occurs when the body’s immune system overreacts to a bacterial, viral or fungal infection, kills 11 million people a year worldwide. Left untreated, it progresses to severe sepsis, where the body’s organs start to malfunction as a result of lower blood pressure. Finally, it can progress
Practical Patient Care /
www.practical-patient-care.com
The aftershock S
to septic shock, caused by the body’s inflammatory response damaging the small blood vessels, leading them to leak fluid into the surrounding tissues, and affecting the heart’s ability to pump blood. The lower blood pressure (hypotension) prevents blood from reaching vital organs, causing organ failure.
47
TeddyandMia/
Shutterstock.com
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53
