A reflection on the care of a critically ill patient Essay

A reflection on the care of a critically ill patient - Essay Example Physicians are expected to make proper clinical assessments to determine whether failures are reversible or irreversible to determine the kind of decision to make. Such assessments are useful on determining whether to withdraw treatment, the kind of therapy to apply and many others. There are a lot of controversies that surround the aspects of managing MOF. This is due to the reason that there is no known treatment cause to be taken on patients with the complication. The field lacks proper research and controlled studies that will aid in giving proper care. Instead, the current methodologies in the treatment and care of MOF patients suggest the application of different immunotherapy patients which are often full of mistakes and inapplicable in some cases. Many players in this field also rely on information from laboratories and at times, many have accepted the use of unproved interventions to control the complication. Further, the field of MOF management lacks definitive diagnostic p recisions and this has been a major discouraging factor (Jevon $ Ewens 2007). All the above problems experienced in this field greatly contribute to the current lack of principled and well-defined rules to follow during patient management. This has made it difficult for physicians to realize what should happen when certain situations come up. This is one of the problems that one can identify when working with others in the area. Mostly, individuals apply what they think is right at certain times and expects families to consent to their determinations. Further, complications such as systematic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) and multiple organ dysfunctions (MOD) presents complications that are difficult to identify and this has further worsened the situation in ICUs dealing with critically ill patients (Jevon $ Ewens 2007). Despite the above challenges, there have been multiple developments made concerning the issue of MOF. Further research has been able to make progress in det ermining the physiology of SIRS; the leading cause of multiple organ failure. Major pathophysiological mechanisms that are within the inflammatory conditions of MOF have been developed with better definitions of sepsis, SIRS and MODS. Health practitioners have made progress in ensuring the prevention of organ failure by ensuring optimum circulation and faster correction of hypoxia of tissues experienced by patients in high-risks. All these developments have been important in ensuring effective care to the patient. Application of the knowledge from the pathophysiology of SIRS, sepsis and MODS helps in the determination of the best methods as regards the care of patients. This paper will reflect on the self experience of taking care of a patient with a multiple organ failure. It will define the best methodologies for application under certain situations that can complicate the process of care to the patient. My experience as regards this issue is of a 57-yr old man who was found colla psed by his wife. Examination of the man recorded some existence of SIRS, the main observation being spontaneous breathing. Initial management was immediate intubation within the ambulance fifteen minutes after the arrival. He was admitted on hospital where a follow up of examinations were done to ascertain the cause and extent of the complication. A scan of the head was done which showed normal functioning at first instances. However, extensive coronary calcification was noted on the