Duration
The duration of septic shock can vary greatly in individual cases. In principle, however, a state of shock must be treated very quickly, otherwise it can be fatal. With adequate treatment, a state of shock should not last longer than several hours.
It only means, however, that the patient’s circulation is stabilized by therapeutic measures. This means that he may still be in a life-threatening state, but by definition no longer in shock (shock index: pulse/systolic blood pressure, shock = > 1). A relapse would be expected if the medication or treatment was discontinued. In the most severe cases, however, a shock can last for several days.
Prognosis/Survival chances
The prognosis of a septic shock depends on many factors and should always be assessed with caution. Epidemiologically, about 60% of those affected die despite intensive medical therapy. Above all, the number and virulence of the pathogens determine how fast the response to therapy and thus an improvement will be.
In this context, virulence describes the ability of the bacteria to cause a disease. However, it must also always be seen together with the resistance of the bacteria to antibiotics. A multi-resistance is to be seen as prognostically less favourable.
Besides the pathogen-related aspects, the general condition of the patient is also decisive. Depending on the body’s own defenses and reserves of the patient, the therapy is more or less successful. In general, the prognosis depends on the onset of therapy. The earlier the treatment is initiated, the better the chances of recovery.The longer the state of shock persists, the higher the risk of deterioration or permanent damage.
Consequences
The consequences of septic shock depend on the duration and extent of the shock. The longer the blood circulation in the organs was interrupted, the greater the damage. The brain is the most sensitive organ and is the first to react to an undersupply.
The consequences of a temporary undersupply can vary greatly and range from short-term speech disorders to states of confusion. If the blood supply is severely interrupted, motor deficits are also conceivable. No less dangerous, however, are the damages that can be caused by blood clots in the organs themselves.
If the blood no longer circulates in the vessels, it coagulates and clogs the vessels. The lack of blood supply can in turn lead to the death of the tissue behind the occlusion, which can result in reduced function of the affected organ. If there are blood clots in the vessels of several organs, multi-organ failure can develop.
If the blood clots are swept away with the restored blood flow, the development of a pulmonary embolism may be imminent. It is important to know that it is not only the septic shock itself that has consequences, but also its treatment. The use of antibiotics, which is essential, can also have side effects.
For example, they are often harmful to the kidneys. To sum up, the consequences of septic shock can be many and varied and in any case require further follow-up treatment and medical control.