Multiorgan Dysfunction: Symptoms and Causes of Sharon Stone’s Grandson Syndrome

We talk about Multi-organ failure when inflammation caused by a severe infection or injury causes dysfunction in two or more organ systems. Often, patients with this syndrome have already been hospitalized for treatment of underlying or related conditions, such as ioperfusion e hypermetabolism, but this is not always the case. Why is multi-organ failure, also known as multi-organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS, Multiple Organ Dysfunction Syndrome), can be fatal, but there is no single answer to what causes it and in a third of patients the origin is not known.

Depending on the cases in which it occurs, many factors may be involved: it can be triggered by the sepsis, an extreme response to an infection that causes an uncontrolled immune reaction, with the release of inflammatory chemicals into the bloodstream; however, if no infection is present, this condition is defined systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS). However, in both cases (SIRS and sepsis), the patient’s clinical condition can progress to Multiple Organ Dysfunction Syndrome.

THE SYMPTOMS OF MULTI-ORGAN DYSFUNCTION

Symptoms of multiple organ failure include mild fever, tachycardia, and tachypnea in the first 24 hours. Within the next 24 to 72 hours, pulmonary failure may occur. This can be followed by bacteremia, as well as renal, intestinal and hepatic failure. Encephalopathy, heart failure, and death can occur within two to three weeks.
This syndrome can affect one or all six organ systems: respiratory, cardiovascular, renal, hepatic, neurological, and hematological. Critically ill patients with signs of failure in any of these systems require immediate clinical intervention to recover.

Pulmonary insufficiency
Respiratory failure can occur due to injury, infection, or surgical complications. The signs include difficulty breathing, anxiety, sweating, and bluish skin. Patients with respiratory failure can become dependent on the ventilator during their care.

Cardiovascular insufficiency
Heart failure can occur when the heart muscle is too weak or stiff to pump blood properly. The signs include irregular heartbeat, weakness, inability to exert effort, and swelling of the lower limbs. Heart failure can lead to damage to both the kidneys and the liver, as the blood flowing from the heart to the kidneys can decrease and the liver can experience pressure from fluid build-up.

Kidney failure
Acute kidney failure occurs when the kidneys are unable to filter waste from the blood. When the kidneys lose this ability, dangerous levels of waste can build up and blood chemistry can be out of balance. The signs include nausea, seizures, reduced urine production, swelling of the lower limbs, and chest pain.

Hepatic failure
Liver failure occurs when large parts of the liver are damaged beyond repair and the liver can no longer function. It can occur gradually, over many years, or acutely, within 48 hours. The signs include nausea, abdominal pain and swelling, and yellowing of the eyes and skin.

Neurological Insufficiency
As the brain controls the other systems of the body, neurological dysfunction can take many forms. However, an altered state of consciousness is a common manifestation of neurological insufficiency associated with MODS Syndrome.

Blood failure
Bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract or skin breaks is common when someone is experiencing multi-organ failure. This reaction can be very difficult to control or stop.

There is currently no treatment available to reverse an ongoing organ dysfunction. The only feasible therapy is supportive and consists in guaranteeing adequate ventilation and hemodynamic stability to the patient in order to be able to provide a sufficient supply of oxygen to the tissues, so as to prevent ischemic complications.

The prognosis of the patient suffering from Multiorgan Dysfunction Syndrome is severe since mortality can vary from 30% to 100% and the possibility of survival decreases in conjunction with the increase in the organs involved.