Why Does Sepsis Cause An Amputation?
A simple infection can end with the amputation of the patient's limbs. How does this occur and how can it be prevented?
Sepsis deaths
Research carried out last year on behalf of The UK Sepsis Trust found that over a quarter of a million people develop sepsis in the UK each year. Over 40,000 of those people die from the condition. And 10,000 of those deaths are considered to be avoidable with earlier diagnosis and faster treatment.
A failure to diagnose sepsis at an early stage can have devastating consequences including the following:
- Multiple organ failure
- Sight loss
- Amputation of fingers, toes or even limbs
- Post-sepsis syndrome
- Death
What is sepsis?
Sepsis is the result of the body over-reacting to an infection elsewhere in the body. The most common types of infection to cause a patient to develop sepsis are abdominal infections, such as a gallbladder infection, and chest infections but it can be the product of an infection anywhere in the body, including the heart.
How can sepsis cause amputation?
If the body's immune system and bloodstream go into overdrive in response to an infection, it can cause excessive clotting in the blood vessels and leakage from the blood vessels.
This can then lead to a reduced supply of oxygen to the body's organs and around the body. When this occurs, tissue starved of oxygen can start to die, causing gangrene.
Gangrene most commonly affects fingers, toes, hands and feet - the body's extremities. Amputation is occasionally necessary in order to stop the further spread of gangrene and save the patient's life.
Sepsis diagnosis
The long-term impact of sepsis can be life-changing. As a fast-developing illness, it requires early diagnosis in order to give the patient the best chance of surviving at all, and preferably with as few permanent effects as possible.
Once diagnosis is confirmed, it is recommended that patients receive intravenous antibiotics within one hour. A delay beyond this time is thought to increase the chance of the condition becoming fatal.
It is vital therefore, to identify patients suspected of having sepsis as quickly as possible.
Medical Negligence
A failure to recognise the early signs and symptoms of sepsis might be considered to be negligent.
Where the patient suffers debilitating, long-term effects, they could be entitled to make a claim for compensation.
Contact Glynns Solicitors to talk to a specialist medical negligence solicitor if you or a loved one have suffered due to a failure to diagnose sepsis.
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