Acute Life Threatening Conditions: Pathophysiology, Nursing Priorities and Interventions

Running head: ACUTE LIFE THREATENING CONDITIONS
ACUTE LIFE THREATENING CONDITIONS
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1ACUTELIFE THREATENING CONDITIONS
Question 1
Taking insights from the case study, it can be observed that the concerned patient Mr.
Kirkman, is inflicted with sepsis caused from the progression of symptoms related to urinary
tract infection, otherwise known as urosepsis. UTI, otherwise known as urinary tract infection,
implies emergence of infection caused in the urinary tract, due to interference by pathogenic
microbial strains and is associated with harmful effects on excretory activities of kidneys, due to
after progressing throughout the compartments of the urinary tract system, that is the ureters,
urethra and urinary bladder (Mulvey, Klumpp & Stapleton, 2017). An individual may acquire
symptoms of urinary tract infection after pathogenic microbial strains find entry into to urethra,
especially after performing self-care hygiene tasks in insanitary conditions, due to
inappropriately wiping after urination or engagement in sexual intercourse without protection.
This leads to symptoms like perception of burning or irritation sensations during urination,
feeling the urgency to urinate even after immediate urinary and production of urine which is
dark, concentrated and thick, and radiating lower abdominal pain in the kidney or right flank
areas - which can be prevalently observed upon reading Mr. Kirkman’s case study
(Wagenlehner, Tandogdu & Johansen, 2017).
Upon infiltration by infectious microbes, the innate immunity and defense mechanisms of
the body aim to combat further aggravation of symptom. However, lack of timely administration
of treatment and increments in the rates of inflammation due to immunological mechanisms
results in progression of the disease towards the kidneys hence affecting normal rates of
excretory mechanisms (Lange & Chew, 2015). Kidneys are the organs solely responsible for
removal of toxic nitrogenous wastes like creatinine and urea, along with maintaining

2ACUTELIFE THREATENING CONDITIONS
recommended levels of hydration and electrolytes in the body. From the case study, it can be
observed that Mr. Kirkman has been presented with abnormally high levels of potassium,
sodium, creatinine and urea in the serum which implies that normal excretory functioning of his
kidneys are clearly impaired due to the result of progression of UTI symptoms from the urinary
bladder to the kidneys (Cunha, 2016).
UTI progresses to urosepsis due to increments in the proliferation of infection to
surrounding organs via the bloodstream. To combat pathogenic UTI symptoms, immunological
processes such as T cell activation are conducted. Often however, the body may lose tolerance
against these mechanisms resulting in malfunction in the immunological processes and triggering
pathologies of multiple organ failure and septic shock. This results in symptoms of alterations in
mental state, increased respiratory rate an abnormal reductions in blood pressure (Tonolini,
2018). The above pathophysiology can hence be observed and related in Mr. Kirkman, who is
unable to engage in normal speech and cognition and has symptoms of abnormally high
respiration and body temperature, hypoxia, abnormally low blood pressure resulting in the
flushing of his face.
Questions 2
As per Australian Therapeutic Guidelines, the nursing priority to be addressed here is
infection prevention (Fasugba et al., 2017). It is worthwhile to note that the key mechanisms
underlying Mr. Kirkman’s present condition is due to the pathogenic progression of his UTI
symptoms to surrounding tissues and cerebral areas of his brain resulting in urosepsis. Urosepsis
is a harmful condition with serious fatal symptoms due to circulating presence of pathogens and
inability of the immunological processes of the body to ward off the same. Hence, the lack of