Multiple organ dysfunction syndromeMultiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) is altered organ function in an acutely ill patient requiring immediate medical intervention. There are different stages of organ dysfunction for certain different organs, both in acute and in chronic onset, whether or not there are one or more organs affected.
SepsisLife-threatening response to infectionMedical conditionSepsis, also known as septicemia (or septicaemia in British English) is a potentially life-threatening condition that arises when the body's dysregulated response to infection causes injury to its own tissues and organs. This initial stage of sepsis is followed by dysregulation of the immune system. Common signs and symptoms include fever, increased heart rate, increased breathing rate, and confusion.
HomeostasisState of steady internal conditions maintained by living thingsIn biology, homeostasis (in British English also homoeostasis) is the process by which living organisms maintain relatively stable internal physical and chemical conditions despite changes in their internal or external environment.
Life supportLife support comprises the treatments and techniques performed in an emergency in order to support life after the failure of one or more vital organs. Healthcare providers and emergency medical technicians are generally certified to perform basic and advanced life-support procedures; however, basic life support is sometimes provided at the scene of an emergency by family members or bystanders before emergency services arrive.
Systemic inflammatory response syndromeIn immunology, systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) is an inflammatory state affecting the whole body. It is the body's response to an infectious or noninfectious insult. Although the definition of SIRS refers to it as an "inflammatory" response, it actually has pro- and anti-inflammatory components. PresentationComplicationsSIRS is frequently complicated by failure of one or more organs or organ systems.
Acute (medicine)In medicine, describing a disease as acutedenotes that it is of recent ; it occasionally denotes a short . The quantification of how much time constitutes "short" and "recent" varies by disease and by context, but the core denotation of "acute" is always qualitatively in contrast with "chronic", which denotes long-lasting disease (for example, in acute leukaemia and chronic leukaemia).
Septic shockSeptic shock is a potentially fatal medical condition that occurs when sepsis, which is defined as an abnormal immune response to infection that leads to life-threatening organ dysfunction, leads to dangerously low blood pressure and abnormalities in cellular and metabolic dysfunction.Medical scoringThere are several scoring systems in intensive care units (ICUs) today. Adult scoring systemsAPACHE II was designed to provide a morbidityscore for a patient. It is useful to decide what kind of treatment or medicine is given. Methods exist to derive a predicted mortality from this score, but these methods are not too well defined and rather imprecise.
Organ (biology)In a multicellular organism, an organ is a collection of tissues joined in a structural unit to serve a common function. In the hierarchy of life, an organ lies between tissue and an organ system. Tissues are formed from same type cells to act together in a function. Tissues of different types combine to form an organ which has a specific function. The intestinal wall, for example, is formed by epithelial tissue and smooth muscle tissue.
Chronic conditionA chronic condition, also known as a chronic disease or chronic illness, is a health condition or disease that is persistent or otherwise long-lasting in its effects. The term chronic is often applied when the course of the disease lasts for more than three months.
SOFA scoreThe sequential organ failure assessment score (SOFA score), previously known as the sepsis-related organ failure assessment score, is used to track a person's status during the stay in an intensive care unit (ICU) to determine the extent of a person's organ function or rate of failure. The score is based on six different scores, one each for the respiratory, cardiovascular, hepatic, coagulation, renal and neurological systems.*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.