Organ dysfunction is a condition where an
organ
Organ and organs may refer to:
Biology
* Organ (biology), a group of tissues organized to serve a common function
* Organ system, a collection of organs that function together to carry out specific functions within the body.
Musical instruments
...
does not perform its expected function. Organ failure is organ dysfunction to such a degree that normal
homeostasis
In biology, homeostasis (British English, British also homoeostasis; ) is the state of steady internal physics, physical and chemistry, chemical conditions maintained by organism, living systems. This is the condition of optimal functioning fo ...
cannot be maintained without external clinical intervention or
life support
Life support comprises the treatments and techniques performed in an emergency in order to support life after the failure of one or more vital organs. Healthcare providers and emergency medical technicians are generally certified to perform bas ...
. It is not a diagnosis. It can be classified by the cause, but when the cause is not known, it can also be classified by whether the onset is
chronic or
acute.
Multiple organ failure
Multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) is altered organ function in an acutely ill patient requiring immediate medical intervention.
There are different stages of organ dysfunction for certain different organs, both in acute and in chronic ...
can be associated with
sepsis
Sepsis is a potentially life-threatening condition that arises when the body's response to infection causes injury to its own tissues and organs.
This initial stage of sepsis is followed by suppression of the immune system. Common signs and s ...
and is often fatal. Countries such as Spain have shown a rise in mortality risk due to a large elderly population there. There are tools physicians use when diagnosing multiple organ failure and when prognosing the outcome. The Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score
uses early lab values in a patient's hospitalization (within 24 hours) to predict fatal outcomes for a patient.
References
External links
Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) Score
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