Treatment/Therapy | Septic Shock

Treatment/Therapy

The treatment of septic shock must be seen as a two-phase process. If a patient is in septic shock, he is in an emergency state. In most cases, patients are no longer able to speak intelligibly or are unconscious due to their poor circulation.

For the first aid, this means that breathing must be secured as quickly as possible, if necessary, and the circulation must be stabilized. This can be achieved both through appropriate shock positioning and the supply of fluid via a venous access. Depending on the measured blood pressure and pulse, the administration of catecholamines such as adrenaline may also be necessary.

Once the patient is stabilized to the extent that he is ready for transport, treatment in the intensive care unit is essential. If the patient has a stable circulation, the second phase of treatment follows. The patient’s vital parameters must still be continuously monitored on a monitor, but now the focus is also on finding the cause.

The trigger of the state of shock is to be found out with the help of blood samples and imaging and provide information about the severity of the infection. Once the bacterial infection has been found and interpreted by laboratory parameters, it will be treated with antibiotics. A previously performed pathogen detection ensures the effectiveness of the antibiotic.

The storage during septic shock corresponds to the actual shock storage, which should be carried out by first-aiders until further help is received. The person affected must lie on his or her back so that the legs can be elevated by about 30°. Ideally, the upper body is also slightly elevated.

The positioning ensures that the blood flows from the legs in the direction of the heart and thus sufficient volume is available for the circulation. In most cases, the lack of fluid is the reason why the person concerned has gone into a state of shock. However, finding and knowing about the person affected is also decisive for the correct storage. In case of nausea or vomiting, a stable lateral position should be aimed for, just as when finding an unconscious stranger. It is therefore important to consider how to position the patient in each individual case, whereby any help will bring improvement.