Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
High Septicemia Count, Low Sodium And Potassium Levels, Having Convulsions. Not Drug Reaction. What Should Be Done?
Question: My dad is ICU for 10 days and he is recovering for 2 days and then slips into bad XXXXXXX state. His septicemia count went zooming to 24,000 levels and his sodium and potassium levels were low when he was first moved to the ICU.
Since today he has started having convulsions off and on and doctors initially thought it was a case of drug reaction however have now ruled it out.
Please advice what should be my next steps here.
Since today he has started having convulsions off and on and doctors initially thought it was a case of drug reaction however have now ruled it out.
Please advice what should be my next steps here.
Hi XXXXXXX
SEIZURE/CONVULSIONS ARE A BAD DEVELOPMENT IN SEPSIS PATIENT AND I SUSPECT IMIPENEM OR HYPONATREMIA ARE THE CAUSE UNLESS PROVEN OTHERWISE.
Your father seems to have a very dreaded medical condition- Sepsis related multiorgan failure.
Causes for sepsis related dyselectrolytemia may be a Pneumonia/SIADH, a condition where inappropriate levels of antidiuretic hormones are present which lead to hyponatremia.
Another possibility is renal dysfunction.
If he had sodium loss through loose motions and replacement given with dextrose only IV fluids.
Hyponatremia denotes low levels of sodium in the blood, if the levels are below 123Meq/L and the rate of drop to this level is rapid then patient may get convulsions.
He has got a very high TLC, indicating ongoing infection.
Imipenem is a strong antibiotic but it is frequently A DRUG THAT CAN CAUSE CONVUSIONS per se, so needs to be switched for other antibiotic- same class drug meropenem is safer.
I would like to advise repeat cultures of blood, urine and respiratory secretions, and if some microorganism is detected then to fine tune antibiotics.
If he is not on inotropes/blood pressure supporting medicines then he should receive Enteral feeding.
I hope this advice would be helpful.
Please do write back for further discussion on this.
Regards,
SEIZURE/CONVULSIONS ARE A BAD DEVELOPMENT IN SEPSIS PATIENT AND I SUSPECT IMIPENEM OR HYPONATREMIA ARE THE CAUSE UNLESS PROVEN OTHERWISE.
Your father seems to have a very dreaded medical condition- Sepsis related multiorgan failure.
Causes for sepsis related dyselectrolytemia may be a Pneumonia/SIADH, a condition where inappropriate levels of antidiuretic hormones are present which lead to hyponatremia.
Another possibility is renal dysfunction.
If he had sodium loss through loose motions and replacement given with dextrose only IV fluids.
Hyponatremia denotes low levels of sodium in the blood, if the levels are below 123Meq/L and the rate of drop to this level is rapid then patient may get convulsions.
He has got a very high TLC, indicating ongoing infection.
Imipenem is a strong antibiotic but it is frequently A DRUG THAT CAN CAUSE CONVUSIONS per se, so needs to be switched for other antibiotic- same class drug meropenem is safer.
I would like to advise repeat cultures of blood, urine and respiratory secretions, and if some microorganism is detected then to fine tune antibiotics.
If he is not on inotropes/blood pressure supporting medicines then he should receive Enteral feeding.
I hope this advice would be helpful.
Please do write back for further discussion on this.
Regards,
Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Shanthi.E
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
