Septic Shock Research Paper

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There are five main types of shock in the medical field. They are septic shock, anaphylactic shock, cardiogenic shock, hypovolemic shock, and neurogenic shock.. This essay will discuss, in detail, the characteristics and treatment associated with each individual type of shock.
Septic shock is a condition and/or state of hypoperfusion that derives from another condition called sepsis; Sepsis the infection of the bloodstream. In order to acquire septic shock one must obtain an infection of the bloodstream. Any type of pathogen can cause that infection. The main factor is bacteria and while fungi and viruses have been known to be able to cause septic shock the occurrence is much more rare than through bacteria.The cause of septic shock lies within …show more content…

Renal and hepatic function tests include creatinine test, blood urea nitrogen (BUN) test, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) test, bilirubin test, and others. Urinalysis includes urine osmolality tests and urine culture tests. The sooner one’s sepsis is diagnosed and managed, the better the chances are one has to survive. There are three identifiable stages of sepsis. The three stages are, in order, sepsis, severe sepsis, and septic shock. The stage of sepsis is achieved when an infection enters the bloodstream and enacts inflammatory responses throughout the body. This stage is not as life threatening as the next two stages but should be assessed and treated for as soon as possible. The stage of severe sepsis is achieved when an infection disrupts the flow of blood to the brain or renal organs resulting towards organ failure. There can be an occurrence of gangrene in the arms, legs, fingers, and toes exhibiting tissue death caused by blood clots. If treatment is not given quickly in this stage then septic shock is bound to occur. The stage of septic shock is achieved when the overall blood pressure drops drastically leading to respiratory, cardiac, or organ failure and likely death This stage demands …show more content…

normal saline, lactated Ringer solution, etc), volume expanders (e.g. albumin and others), antibiotics (e.g. cefotaxime, metronidazole, ciprofloxacin, cefepime, etc), and corticosteroids (e.g. hydrocortisone, dexamethasone, etc).Medications and surgery are often the most effective and most definitive treatments that a doctor or certified medical professional can give to a septic shock patient. However most of those treatments are administered in a hospital setting. Prehospital treatment and management for septic shock would include proper management of ABC’s (Airway, Breathing, Circulation), identifying the source of infection and treat accordingly if possible, and monitoring of the patient's vital signs. Not much definitively can be done in a prehospital setting but prehospital management is vital for patient survivability.Some complications that can occur as a result of septic shock include acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), respiratory failure, heart failure, renal failure or injury, and abnormal blood clotting. Sepsis is listed by The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality as the most expensive condition treated in the U.S. with an overall cost of more than $20 billion in 2011. Sepsis and sepsis

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