Organcomplications

Organcomplications are adverse dysfunctions or failures of one or more organ systems arising from disease, injury, or medical treatment. They may occur acutely in critical illness or surgery, or develop chronically with progressive diseases. They are often interrelated and can progress to multi-organ dysfunction if not identified and addressed promptly.

Common organ complications affect the kidneys (acute kidney injury), liver (hepatic dysfunction), lungs (respiratory failure or ARDS), heart and circulation (shock, arrhythmias), brain (delirium or stroke), and the hematologic and gastrointestinal systems (coagulopathy, ileus, mesenteric ischemia).

Causes include ischemia or hypoperfusion, systemic inflammation, infection and sepsis, toxins or drug toxicity, metabolic disturbances, and immune-mediated injury. Risk factors include advanced age, chronic diseases, high illness severity, and delays in treatment.

Diagnosis relies on clinical assessment and organ-specific tests, such as creatinine and urine output for kidney function, liver enzymes for hepatic function, blood gases and imaging for respiratory status, and neurologic evaluation. Scores like the SOFA score help quantify degree of organ dysfunction.

Management emphasizes treating the underlying cause and providing organ support as needed, including ventilatory support, renal replacement therapy, circulatory support with vasopressors, and infection control. Prevention and early detection improve outcomes, while prognosis depends on the number and severity of affected organs.