Please read this and tell me your opinions...seriously ill relative

SmilingBluEyes · Feb 18, 2003

OH yea massive sepsis * and * ARDS can both act like that and take you down FAST..you better believe it. I hope he recovers and completely. He is young, and that is fortunate. With intensive and comprehensive care, he hopefully will make a full recovery soon. MY best thoughts are with you and your family at this very stressful time. Take care of yourselves and keep us updated, please.

hoolahan, ASN, RN · Feb 18, 2003

Yes I have seen it that fast, and yes I have seen people make a full recovery w aggressive treatment. I wonder why they are allowing his pressure to stay so low, is he on a dopamine drip at renal dose at least or neo to raise BP?

I will keep him in my prayers. :kiss

Stargazer · Feb 18, 2003

I had a 32-yr old pt once in ICU who got that sick that fast. He had a history of chronic ear infections for which he frequently took antibiotics. He ended up with an extremely resistant infection which turned into pneumonia overnight. Ended up septic, intubated, sedated, etc. just like your BIL. The most reactive airways, bar none, I have ever seen. Even when sedated, every time he coughed, he came right up off of the bed. It was kind of disturbing.

He was on the vent for about a week but was able to come off as the pnemonia resolved and graduated to the regular respiratory floor. Went home without any serious sequlae as far as I know.

Emperess · Feb 18, 2003

AngelicNurse, I wanted to point out that there is a good chance the blood cultures WON'T grow anything since he was already on antibiotics, but it sounds like they have plenty of clinical info to treat him as septic even without positive blood cultures.

I, too, have seen it this fast before, it often is. As long as his systems are well-supported in the meantime, there's no reason why he can't recover fully. Our thoughts are all with you, don't forget to take care of yourself and encourage your sister to do the same in the meantime.

deespoohbear · Feb 18, 2003

Nothing more to add except for best wishes and prayers for your BIL and your family....:kiss

Zee_RN, BSN, RN · Feb 18, 2003

Yes, it can happen this quickly and to the young. Had a 43-year-old healthy male patient on the vent for 10 days with an overwhelming pneumonia. Cultures never did grow anything either. They put it down to "atypical pneumonia." He eventually came off the vent and is home and doing fine now. If your BIL in septic, yes, his BP can be in the 80s. Hopefully, they are treating that. ARDS does have a high mortality rate (50/50) but his age is in his favor. My sister has been through ARDS twice.

Our prayers are with you.

cactus wren · Feb 18, 2003

did they make sure that this isn`t hantavirus??

That also strikes rapidly...and has many of the symptoms you listed...

christinemj · Feb 18, 2003

Praying for a quick and full recovery for your BIL...........

Tookie · Feb 19, 2003

Thoughts to you and your family

Hope your next post is good and happy news

Glad2behere · Feb 19, 2003

AngelicNurse,

Hoolahan and Emperess are correct! Your BIL is in septic shock!

He needs dopamine or levophed to bump the BP and volume depletion treated aggressively. Cultures need to come from the ET tube when suctioning. His temp needs to be watched like a hawk, often these patients will spike to 106 or greater. I hope he comes out of it. We always push them to the edge of CHF, get the temp down, and make the kidneys work. If they go into CHF, we know we're halfway home, just dose them with Lasix and keep pouring the fluids. Had three patients like this last week, he is young and will pull through.

A Kitty RN · Feb 19, 2003

Sorry to hear of your news. Just here to offer support and prayers.