By: Neva Marjory

Neva Marjory — Sun, 12 Sep 2004 00:24:58 +0000

Brandy,
Pulmonary Embolism is a blood clot
that forms in the lungs. This is potentialy fatal, and
very pain full.
More times than not they start in
the legs. The clot then becomes dislodged and finds
it way to the lungs were there are extremely small
blood vessels.
Get out of bed as soon as possible
and start walking. This is the best thing to prevent
those nasty blood clots from forming. Many Doctors also
order blood thinners for obese post-surgical patients.
If a blood clot does form, your physician may
recommend placing a filter to prevent it from reaching the
lungs.
Furthermore, taking long deep breaths helps keep the lungs
expanded. This would promote blood moving in the lungs
also. 10 deep breaths an hour is the minimum
reccommendation. If you have trouble breathing now, you need to

work even harder to maintain what function you have
after surgery. Additionally, walking(or exertional
activities) helps keep the lungs expanded.
I hope this
helps. If you have any further questions, let me
know.

Dottie
pre-op DS

By: Aron Freeman

Aron Freeman — Sat, 11 Sep 2004 15:01:51 +0000

Here is a better description- I wasn’t satisfied
with my own definition. Hope you find this is what you
needed to know!

Sepsis
Causes and Risks:

Sepsis is a result of a bacterial infection that can
originate anywhere in the body. Common sites are the
genitourinary tract, the liver or biliary (liver secretion)
tract, the gastrointestinal tract, and the lungs. Less
common sites are intravenous lines, surgical wounds,
surgical drains, and sites of skin breakdown known as
decubitus ulcers or bedsores. The infection is usually
confirmed by a positive blood culture . The infection can
lead to shock , called septic shock . Low blood
pressure and a change in mental status may be
early-warning signs of shock.

There has recently been
an increase in the occurance of sepsis caused by

organisms that are resistant to most standard antibiotics.

Sepsis can be a life-threatening situation, especially
in people with a weakened immune systems. The risk
factors associated with sepsis include:
recent
bacterial pneumonia
meningitis
a urinary tract
infection that does not respond to antibiotics

osteomyelitis
bacterial peritonitis
a recent dental
procedure
a recent endoscopy procedure
a recent
cardiovascular procedure
an indwelling urinary catheter

a recent major surgery
cellulitis
a recent
therapy with antibiotics
People whose immune systems
are suppressed by therapies or by certain diseases
are at higher risk for sepsis. The incidence is 2 out
of 10,000 people.

Prevention:
Many cases
are not preventable. Awareness of risk may allow
earlier detection.

Symptoms:

fever

body temperature may be normal or low

hyperventilation
chills
shaking
warm skin
skin
rash
rapid heart beat ( tachycardia )

confusion or delirium
decreased urine output

Additional symptoms that may be associated with this
disease:

red skin spots
joint pain

hallucinations
hypotonia

Signs and Tests:

white blood cell count that is low or high
blood
culture that is positive for bacteria
blood gases
that reveal acidosis
urine pH that may be low

This disease may also alter the results of the
following tests:

RBC indices
peripheral smear

fibrin degradation products
cholesterol test

blood differential

Treatment:

Hospitalization is necessary to achieve treatment goals.
Intravenous antibiotic therapy should be initiated as soon as
the diagnosis is suspected. The therapy is not
delayed while determining the causative organism.
Sometimes more than one type of antibiotic is given while
results of the blood cultures are pending. Antibiotics
can then be changed when the culture results are
available and the causative organism is known. The source
of the infection should be identified if possible,
which may mean further diagnostic testing. Sources such
as infected intravenous lines or surgical drains can
be removed, and sources such as abscesses can be
surgically drained. Supportive therapy with oxygen and
intravenous fluid and management of complications is
important for a good outcome.

Prognosis:
The
death rate can be as high as 60% for people with
severely low white blood cell counts or suppressed immune
systems. In people with no underlying disease, the death
rate is about 5%.

By: Aron Freeman

Aron Freeman — Sat, 11 Sep 2004 09:41:04 +0000

Pulmonary embolism is a blood clot in your
lungs.
Septic shock is easiest for me to describe as your own
blood poisoning your own body?It is a difficult
situation to describe. But it is severely dangerous and
about 2 out of 10 people make it thru.

Ice

By: Neva Marjory

Neva Marjory — Sat, 11 Sep 2004 03:01:49 +0000

What is pulmonary embolisms or septic shock???

Comments on: Exactly what I needed

By: Neva Marjory

By: Aron Freeman

By: Aron Freeman

By: Neva Marjory