Did your elderly loved one recently have surgery? Maybe it hasn’t happened yet, but will be coming up. If this is the case, it is important to know how to keep them as healthy as possible after the surgery. It is also a good idea to learn about some complications that can arise after a surgery, that way you can help to prevent them.
One issue that is, unfortunately, more common than many others is sepsis. Sepsis can be life-threatening.
Defining Sepsis
Whenever anyone has surgery, they are at risk of getting an infection. Sepsis is a health complication that occurs due to an infection in the body. When someone falls ill to sepsis, many things are happening within their body. First of all, chemicals are being released into their bloodstream to help fight off the infection. Those chemicals cause inflammation throughout the patient’s body which can lead to organ failure.
Symptoms/Signs of Sepsis in the Elderly
If you are caring for your elderly loved one after their surgery, it would be a good idea to look for symptoms/signs of sepsis. The sooner these signs are noticed, the more likely it is that your elderly loved one can survive.
In the first stage, sepsis, some of the symptoms and signs that may occur in your elderly loved one are:
- Heart rate over 90 beats per minute at rest
- Fever over 101 degrees Fahrenheit
- Quick breathing
In the second stage, severe sepsis, some symptoms and signs that may be noticed include:
- Trouble breathing
- Severely decreased urge to urinate
- Abdominal pain
In the third and final stage, you would notice the symptoms above, along with extremely low blood pressure that can’t be fixed with replacement fluids.
If you notice any of these signs/symptoms in your elderly loved one after they have surgery, be sure to get them medical attention right away. The sooner they get help, the more likely it is that the doctors can treat the sepsis.
Recovering from Sepsis
Like with many health issues, early detection is vital to the recovery process. During the first stage of sepsis, the patient has a 15 to 30% of death and in the final stage of sepsis there is a 40 to 60% chance of death.
In the majority of cases, the patient needs to be hospitalized to get treatment that is needed. However, in the most mild cases of sepsis, antibiotics are only required and the patient may be able to recover at home with the help of family caregivers and companion care at home.
Sepsis is, unfortunately, quite common in the elderly after they have surgery. If your elderly loved one has recently had surgery, it’s very important to try and prevent infections. Companion care at home is a great way to ensure your parent is taking daily steps to reduce the risk of a hospital readmission. If they do have signs/symptoms of sepsis, be sure they get medical attention right away.
Sources
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3956061/
