Sepsis and Maternal Health

These flashcards cover key terms and definitions related to the lecture on sepsis and maternal health, emphasizing understanding of critical medical concepts.

Sepsis

A serious condition resulting from the body's extreme response to an infection, leading to life-threatening organ dysfunction.

Infection

The invasion of the body by harmful microorganisms that can lead to disease.

Tachycardia

An abnormally rapid heart rate, typically over 90 beats per minute.

Hypotension

Abnormally low blood pressure, often associated with dehydration or illness.

Capillary permeability

The ability of blood vessels to allow the flow of substances into and out of tissues.

Dysregulation

The failure to control or manage a process effectively, particularly in biological systems.

Endothelial cell damage

Injury to the inner lining of blood vessels, which can impair circulation and oxygen exchange.

Lactate level

A measure of lactic acid in the blood, often used as an indicator of tissue hypoxia.

Multi organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS)

A progressive condition resulting from sepsis, in which two or more organ systems fail.

Maternal early warning signs

A scoring system to identify significant changes in a maternal patient's condition that may indicate deteriorating health.

Hemodilution

A decrease in blood cell concentration due to the dilution of blood plasma, often occurring in pregnancy.

SOFA score

Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score; a scoring system to determine the extent of organ dysfunction.

Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation (DIC)

A serious disorder in which the proteins that control blood clotting become overactive, leading to clotting and bleeding.

Shock

A medical emergency that occurs when the body suffers from inadequate blood flow to vital organs.

Blood culture

A test that checks for the presence of bacteria or other pathogens in the blood.

Oliguria

A condition where urine output is significantly decreased, often indicating kidney dysfunction.

Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS)

A severe lung condition that causes low oxygen levels in the blood, often resulting from inflammation.

Normalization of deviance

The process where deviations from standard practices become normalized, potentially leading to adverse outcomes.

Alarm fatigue

A desensitization to alarm signals in clinical settings, which may lead to failure to respond to critical alerts.