Awaking after SepticShock Strep A//ECMO

[MmA15]

Hello, my 44year old mother caught Strep A infection which caused sepsis and septic shock, severe pneumonia and her heart and kidneys started to fail. She was on maximum levels of BP meds and all other medications. She received meds to paralyse her muscles to try to bring her BP and saturation back up. We got told she is not going to make it but one miracle happened and team of specialist from other hospital came and took her to other hospital to connect to ECMO machine which managed to stabilize her condition.

Throughout the first night without ECMO machine her blood pressure was constantly dropping.

From 85/40 to extreme lows like 60/30, her blood oxygen saturation was very low from 60 to lowest 49/50s. She spent whole night and most of the day like that. Now when she is on ECMO machine her levels are good. Doctors took off the sedation about 1.5days ago but she is not waking up. If she doesn't wake up within the next week they will take her to CT scan to look for brain damages.

I am very worried that after being on these low oxygen levels in her blood it could have damaged her brain or the sepsis itself could have damaged it. She is not moving at all, not responding to any light, her eyes dont open and her pupils are very small. What are the chances she will wake up? Did anyone heard or been through similar situation? I tried looking for other posts like this but didn't find anyone surviving such low oxygen levels and blood pressure.

Thank you for any replies and any help.

[Sepsur]

I don’t know what numbers I had but my blood pressure was appalling low and my sats were bad enough for them to consider ECMO as the only viable option & the final solution. After six weeks the day came and the ICU init contacted the ECMO team at Wythenshawe only to be told that it was now too late, I would not survive the ambulance transfer. I too had what your Mum was suffering. After 7 weeks of dialysis and another 2weeks in a coma, I didn’t wake quickly. They feared a hypoxic brain injury, at one time I couldn’t tolerate intubation and a nurse kept me alive on ambu-bag. Numerous times my family were called in to say their goodbyes.

My sats & blood pressure remained very low for many weeks and months after ICU. I still have to take care if I stand quickly, it is not uncommon for us to experience what is happening with your Mum.

[Copse77]

my brother was in his 40s when he became critically I’ll with flu that led to sepsis and he was put on ECMO because his lungs were failing. It saved his life but it is not like in the films when people wake up instantly. I will send you a link to the ECMO family support website. There you can read stories of other families like mine and our experience which was written to help other families. I hope your mum recovers.

[Copse77]

here is the link. The first story is our family story.

ecmofamilysupport.com/ecmo-...

[Grant_za]

I can perhaps help you a little with ECMO. I'm a cardiac perfusionist - we are not doctors, but work under their instruction. In short, we mostly manage the "heart-lung machine" during certain cardiac procedures, as well as manage the ECMO circuit (equipment). With both cardiac failure and complete loss of lung function, the ECMO circuit takes over those functions.In the event of pulmonary failure, the ECMO circuit replaces lung function, and allows the lungs to rest and recuperate while the ECMO circuit does it's work. It differs significantly from mechanical ventilation in that the lungs still have to do the work in terms of oxygenating blood.

As far as waking up is concerned, there is no accurate time frame, in many, if not most instances, patients begin to wake up when their body is ready to do so. Patients are weaned off sedatives, but are monitored very carefully for any signs of discomfort. If it is suspected there is chance of discomfort, sedatives are "gently" reintroduced. Additionally - more often than not, patients will undergo a CT scan when not waking up quite as expected.

Although the oxygen saturation was low, the body's demand for oxygen when in an unconscious state is also lower. The human brain is the apex organ in our bodies, it can shut down other organs (ogygenated blood supply) in its own interest of survival - this is very much observed in downing victims.

This is not to say brain damage never occurred or is improbable, some damage may have occurred (or not), but in essence dont get too frightened & despaired - there is going to be quite a lot going on during the coming days.

Although not specific to your mother, many cardiac patients experience "post perfusion syndrome" after significant surgery. They waken with stroke-like symptoms similar to that caused by oxygen deprivation to the brain. Most often they go on to fully recover. Some things although appear very severe at the time, do come right again after long recovery periods.

I hope, as I'm certain all here do, you mom goes on to recover fully. It's a difficult road with many ups & downs. But be certain to take good care of your own health, both mental & physical.

As long as your own health is good, you are able to advocate for your mother.