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Specializes in Critical Care/Intensive Care.

What organ is the first to fail from sepsis?

im like certain it’s kidneys but now am unsure because of ARDS. help!

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This a test question? 'Cause it speaks to dumb, irrelevant test questions. First to fail when? A half hour before the next organ failure? An hour? A day? What if the reality is different from the test question answer? Does that mean the patient isn't septic? My answer: Who cares and why is that  even relevant as long as you're aware that ALI and/or AKI happen in severe sepsis?

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Specializes in Research & Critical Care.
3 minutes ago, offlabel said:

This a test question? 'Cause it speaks to dumb, irrelevant test questions. First to fail when? A half hour before the next organ failure? An hour? A day? What if the reality is different from the test question answer? Does that mean the patient isn't septic? My answer: Who cares and why is that  even relevant as long as you're aware that ALI and/or AKI happen in severe sepsis?

This is perfect.

Kidney injury is common but there's not a set sequence that they fail.. could be cardiac, pulmonary, renal, hepatic, hematologic, neurologic, etc. or it could be all of them. Just know it can happen so you can anticipate what to look for.

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Specializes in Critical Care/Intensive Care.

I agree. It is a dumb question. 
it’s not a test question but it sounds like one. 
part of my ICU’s new nurse orientation is that we have to present case studies. 
it’s a case study question. I also think it’s a dumb question and poorly worded. 
truth be told, I know it’s different depending on the patient. Everyone’s body responses differently. Im not stupid, I know this. 

I know there is no set sequence they fail. Some people experience organ failure faster than others too. If they already have existing AKI, or a history of respiratory issues, that could be taken into account as well. 

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