What Causes Organ Failure?
According to the American Thoracic Society, organ failure is caused by various factors and conditions, including loss of blood, poisoning, serious trauma, drugs, leukemia and acute illnesses. Organ failure can occur within one organ or multiple organs, depending on the underlying causes and normally requires transplantation. Organ failure may be either chronic or acute.
The American Thoracic Society reports that sepsis is a common cause of multiple organ failure. Serious organ failure is associated with the liver, kidney, heart, lung and pancreas. Liver failure is caused by cirrhosis due to fatty liver, alcohol, viral hepatitis or an autoimmune disease. Kidney failure results from hypertensive nephrosclerosis, diabetes or glomerular disease. The causes of heart failure include congenital heart disease, cardiomyopathy and coronary artery disease. Lung failure is often caused by emphysema or idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. The pancreas may fail due to diabetes.
The New Health Guide reveals that the symptoms of organ failure vary depending on the affected organ. Prompt diagnosis and treatment of infections, nutritional support and early operative procedures are the main interventions through which multiple organ failure can be prevented. The management of patients with organ failure includes supportive care and maintenance of the optimum levels of tissue oxygenation.
