Authors

Santiago García-Velasco Sánchez-Morago

Position

Diplomado en Enfermería. Profesor Asociado Clínico de UCI. Escuela de Enfermería de Ciudad Real. Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha.

Contact address

C/ Capellán Marcelo Colino, 5-casa 10. 13002. Ciudad Real.

Contact email: santgarc@telefonica.net

Abstract

Sepsis is a complex process that continues to be a permanently defying challenge in critical care. Despite continuous advances in the treatment of infectious disease, no optimal treatment has as of yet been found to this severe problem.
Sepsis with acute organic dysfunction (acute sepsis) is a relatively common pathology, often fatal and costly to treat.
Treatment with drotrecogin-alpha (activated) is used to reduce mortality in adult patients with severe sepsis who have a high risk of death (assessed according to the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II, APACHE II). The critical care nurse must be familiar with this therapy to facilitate its application in clinical practice.
This article provides information about physiopathological changes associated to acute sepsis, the use of drotrecogin-alpha (activated) in these patients, the aspects relating to nursing care in patients with acute sepsis receiving this new therapy and our experience on the administration of this medication.

Keywords:

severe sepsis; multiorgan dysfunction syndrome; drotrecogi-alpha (activated); critical caresurgical-medical care

Versión en Español

Título:

La colaboración enfermera en el diagnóstico y tratamiento de la sepsis grave