Maureen Maloney-Poldek MSN, RN Chamberlain College of Nursing Pathophysiology of sepsis and septic shock How sepsis affects the endocrine system Pathophysiology of adrenal insufficiency Clinical manifestations of relative adrenal insufficiency History of treatment for relative adrenal insufficiency, use of corticosteroids and the cosyntropin stim test Current treatment of adrenal insufficiency Pathophysiology and clinical manifestations of hyperglycemia Treatment of hyperglycemia and how insulin protocols have changed and why Sepsis Ladder (Dellinger et al., 2013) Septic Shock SIRS Temperature >100.4 F (38 C) or < 96.8 F (36 C) RR > 20 breaths/min Heart Rate > 90 beats/min WBCs > 12,000 or < 4, 000 or > 10% bands PaCO 2 < 32 mmhg Sepsis SIRS + presence of a confirmed or suspected infection Severe Sepsis Sepsis + Signs of end organ damage Hypotension Lactate level > 4 mmol Severe sepsis with persistent hypotension Signs of end organ damage Lactate level > 4 mmol Inflammation
Inflammation Vasodilation Decreases afterload Increased capillary permeability Decreases preload Activation of the clotting cascade Oxygenation B/P and CO How does sepsis effect the endocrine system?
(Lewis et al., 2011). Inflammation from sepsis suppresses the HPA axis altering the feedback loop Resistance to steroids related to altered feedback loop Thrombotic necrosis of the adrenal gland Circulatory collapse Refractory hypotension Tachycardia Dehydration Fever A/N/V/D/abdominal pain Fatigue and muscle weakness Very vague in critically ill patients!!! (Whiteman, 2009)
Baseline cortisol level, cosyntropin administration and repeat cortisol level (Whiteman, 2009) No longer recommended to assess for relative adrenal insufficiency (Dellinger et al., 2013) Why steroids? Originally thought to reduce inflammation Currently treats relative adrenal insufficiency History of steroid use in sepsis High doses increased mortality rate (Bone et al., 1987) Low doses improved mortality rates (Annane et al., 2002) CORTICUS reduction in organ failure rates but not mortality (Moreno et al., 2011) Patients with refractory hypotension despite vasopressor administration Recommend a dose of 200 mg/day Recommend a continuous infusion (Dellinger et al., 2013) Can occur in critically ill patients without a history of diabetes Due to increased stress response Can lead to complications Abnormal immune function Infection rates Hemodynamic instability Dysrhythmias (Schiffner, 2014)
What is a normal blood glucose? What should the target blood glucose be? Blood glucose goal of < 180 mg/dl Van Den Berghe et al., (2001) 80-110 mg/dl Used to be <150 mg/dl (2008 guidelines) NICE SUGAR Trial Hypoglycemia = mortality rates (NICE SUGAR TRIAL, 2008, Dellinger et al., 2008 & Dellinger et al., 2013) Treat two consecutive BG readings of > 180 mg/dl Insulin infusion goal BG of < 180 mg/dl Monitor BG every 1-2 hrs until stable, then every 4 hours Caution with Point of care testing Nurse controlled protocols Safe Better target outcomes (Kleinpell, Aitken, & Schorr, 2013) (Dellinger et al., 2013 & Kleinpell, Aitken, & Schorr, 2013)
Case Study G.S. is a 46 year-old female with a past medical history of HTN and an acute appendicitis. She developed septic shock after her appendix ruptured She is currently intubated, ventilated and sedated and receiving antibiotics. After receiving multiple fluid boluses, she also has a continuous infusion of norepinephrine at 20 mcg/min and vasopressin of 0.03 units/min Despite this, her MAP is at 65mmHg Is she a candidate for corticosteroids? Yes She has received multiple fluid boluses to correct volume loss and she is currently on multiple pressors for a MAP of 65mmHg What is the recommended daily dose?
Her morning blood glucose is 200 mg/dl and her afternoon blood glucose is 192 mg/dl What should the nurse anticipate? An insulin infusion is started, what is the target glucose level? How should the insulin infusion be managed? G.S. is started on hydrocortisone at 200 mg/day and an insulin infusion Gradually, she was weaned off norepinephrine and vasopressin Eventually she was weaned off mechanical ventilation and extubated She eventually made a complete recovery The End
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