Sepsis and Septic Shock, Animation.
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Published 2021-03-23
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Voice by : Marty Henne
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Sepsis is a life-threatening condition that occurs when the body’s excessive response to an infection causes damage to its own tissues. Sepsis may progress to septic shock, a body-wide deficiency of blood supply that leads to oxygen deprivation, buildup of waste products, and eventual organ failure. Without timely treatment, mortality rates are high.
With sepsis, patients typically experience fever, weakness, sweating, and a rapid heart rate and breathing rate. As septic shock develops, blood pressure decreases, and signs of organ damage, such as confusion and reduced urine output, can be observed. The skin is initially warm or flushed, then becomes cold, sweaty, mottled or bluish.
While any infection can lead to sepsis, bacterial infections in the lungs, digestive and urinary organs, are the most common causes. Sepsis may also develop from a post-surgery infection or an infected catheter.
Septic shock occurs more often in newborns, the elderly and pregnant women. Other risk factors include having a compromised immune system or chronic diseases, extended hospital stays, having invasive devices, and overuse of antibiotics or corticosteroids.
The pathogenesis of septic shock is not fully understood. In most cases, the immune system is overwhelmed by an infection that gets out of control, and responds with a systemic cytokine release that causes widespread vasodilation and fluid leakage from capillaries. These cytokines also activate the coagulation process, producing tiny blood clots that clog blood vessels, reducing blood flow. Bleeding may also develop because excessive coagulation depletes clotting factors. Poor capillary flow reduces oxygen supply and impairs removal of carbon dioxide and waste products, resulting in organ dysfunction and eventually failure.
Diagnosis is primarily clinical but requires confirmation of an ongoing infection.
An elevated blood lactate level serves as an indicator of shock. This is because in the absence of oxygen, the body switches to anaerobic metabolism, which breaks down glucose only partially, producing lactic acid. Blood tests may also indicate signs of organ damage, and infection. Other specimens such as urine, respiratory or wound secretions, may be taken for culture to detect infection. Imaging tests may also help identify the source of infection. Other causes of shock should be ruled out.
Early and aggressive treatment is critical for survival. Treatments include:
- Intravenous fluids, and possibly vasopressors, to restore blood flow.
- Broad-spectrum antibiotics while waiting for culture results. Once the causative organism is identified, more specific antibiotics will be used.
- Other measures to control infection.
- Supportive care such as supplemental oxygen, and in case of organ failure, mechanical ventilation or dialysis.
All Comments (20)
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I was born with sepsis, the doctor already told my mom that I had only minutes. I am now in mid 20's alive and healthy, very grateful for God's daily grace! 😇
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My mom succumbed to sepsis just a week ago and this video helped me understand what happened to her and what she had to go through.
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I was in the hospital for 11 days with pneumonia and sepsis. It was the most painful 11 days of my life. I had also thrown out my back and they couldn’t give me any pain meds for it cuz my oxygen was so low. I had the pneumonia for about a month and just kept ignoring it until it almost killed me. Sepsis is no joke and if I knew it was even a possibility I wouldn’t have waited at all to go to the hospital. It’s scary to feel your body being taken over slowly, pushing you to the very brink of death. I’ll never forget the pain I endured
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I lost my father just 2 weeks ago due to severe sepsis, my father was 63 years old but he is still strong and healthy, 1 day he got a fever and a diarrhea and thought it was just normal sickness until in 3days he was having difficulty in breathing and sweats a lot, his hands are cold and bloated stomach. I can feel his having a hard time becuase he always tells us that he couldn't make it.. We rush him into the hospital, he was taken care but unfortunately he only last 1day in hospital.. It was so sudden we are all in shock and couldn't believe it all happened..It was so heart breaking 😢😢.. I am praying for all people having sepsis, to keep the faith, keep strong and trust everything to the lord to heal you..
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My dad used to get severe sepsis TWICE. The first sepsis left him disabled where; his doctors had to amputate his left leg to stop the infection from spreading further up into his body. He then went into a great depression. He believed that his life was over, all thanks to the amputation operation that left him permanently disabled; consequently, his will to live just diminished. The second sepsis was more severe as he went into shock, and the doctors couldn't do anything to sustain his life any longer. Thankfully, we could touch his hands and talk to him one last time before passing away. :(
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My grandma died from this condition yesterday. She was 88 years old. She had several bladder infections treated with antibiotics a couple of times before she passed away and was bleeding excessively a month ago or something. What bothers me the most is that it seemed as if she was fighting against letting go of this life for over an hour, like she was scared of dying until she eventually couldn’t stop it from happening anymore. This bothers me the most. I can’t imagine what that must have been/felt like, or if she was able to think and what she was thinking about before she passed away. I will always miss her, my dear grandma.
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I just want to send prayers to everyone who is going through, ever has gone through or who has family experiencing this horrible infliction. Also giving thanks for all who have survived. Glory be to God.🙏🏽🫶🏽
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I had a lung infection turn sepsis. I didnt go to emergency room untill 6 weeks later. I had been going to Med Now clinic. Then at home i had an attack. Felt like heart attack. Dropped me to my knees. A week later went to emergency room and was trandported 2hrs away to a big city hospital that had specialist to treat me perform surgey on my lungs. I knew i was in bad shap when the nurses started praying for me. Praise God!! It over a yr later now, i was on every antibiotic for 12 weeks, i still have diarria, weekness in my muscles, leg cramps, irritability.
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My nan at this minute is battling sepsis hopefully she is ok may god be with her ❤️❤️🙏
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I had sepsis from picking at a cyst. My wife dragged me to the hospital after I didn’t want to go. Very thankful she did.
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My septic shock story summarized. Last May put in ICU, contracted sepsis, went into a coma for 5 1/2 weeks. Placed on ventilator, my wife and brother were told I was not going to make it twice. Woke up, spent 3 more weeks in the hospital. Had to return to the hospital for another week due to an infection. Rehabilitating at home and gym trying to recover. I tell people this disease is like a hurricane, it doesn’t come and go, it ravages your body causing damage throughout your body. I feel very sorry for those who lost a loved one and those who went through this horrible disease. God Bless.
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I had sepsis from a kidney infection that went awry. I had the sweats so bad I soaked the sheet. I drove myself to the hospital. My ex worked nights, so I had to leave my kids alone. The oldest was 15. By the time I got to the hospital, I had the worse headache ever. I couldn't tolerate light, even blue light. The nurses gave me a folded sheet to cover my eyes. They thought, at first, I had meningitis. I was put in ICU. I hallucinated for almost three days. I had no idea what my body did at that time. When I came to, the dr told me I had sepsis. He said I was incredibly lucky to be alive. A lot of doctors and nurses stopped by to tell me how lucky I was.
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I was just hospitalized for sepsis and the doctors were telling me that had I not come in sooner, I would’ve been dead. My body was basically shutting down and my heart was having issues keeping blood flow. My heart rate would jump to the 160s then suddenly drop to the low 30s. I had every single symptom you could think of and was sweating through everything. I was on so much mediation to stop the pain from my chest alone. Turns out my kidney was damaged and my heart but I had ignored it for weeks. I’m still recovering now and had to make some dietary changes and I can’t move around as fast anymore.
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I just found out about this channel and I love its videos. It's like medical school for us ordinary people. THANK YOU so much for your efforts and I hope this channel continues to grow and prosper. Much love and respect from Istanbul, Turkiye!
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This video is extremelly helpful how perfectly explained it s done! Thank you very much for all that i learn thanks to your professionalism! 👍👍👍
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my mom died few days ago and today i saw her birth certificate.the cause of her death is a septic shock.I m immediately trying to learn more about septic shock. my mother wanted me to be a doctor now i have got a new energy finding this.bcz doctors havent done much for my mother and im gonna save many lives one day.wish me luck....
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My grandmother passed away due to septic shock and kidney ,heart failure..we admitted her the next day when she complained of feeling very weak and in pain.. unfortunately she succumbed 12 hours after admitting to CCU. May her soul rest in peace. Namah shivay 🙏
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Very concise & well put together. Thank you
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I lost my mom to this in 2019. She contracted it from pneumonia and we all didn't even know she was sick until it was too late. It really took me by surprise and I can't believe how fast she succumbed to this thing. It's a horrible feeling to just sit there and watch your loved one as their life keeps slipping away hour after hour and there's nothing you can do about it. To this day I struggle to come to terms with her death.
