On March 9, medical students at the University of British Columbia had a unique opportunity to learn about sepsis. Thanks to the efforts of PhD/MD student Andy An and sepsis researcher Dr John Boyd, patient partners Kristine Russell and Sue Korstad were able to share their experiences surviving sepsis over 200 medical students at Vancouver General Hospital, including students attending remotely from programs in Victoria, Prince George, and Kelowna.
Susan developed sepsis after a routine surgery to repair a hernia, which ultimately led to 58 days in the hospital. She emphasized the long-term impacts of sepsis on her physical and mental well-being, as well as the emotional and financial burden it placed on her family. Her key message to the audience: “Listen to your patients. We know our bodies.” She also spoke on the need for more integrated care across sub-specialities, reminding the audience that sepsis is a complex syndrome that effects the entire body.
Kristine (pictured above) developed maternal sepsis shortly after the birth of her daughter, Ellie, who developed neonatal sepsis. Kristine also emphasized the long-term impacts of sepsis. She is still searching for a medical diagnosis that describes the combination of symptoms that Ellie now experiences. One of her messages to the students: “Sepsis does not discriminate…I did all the things you’re supposed to do when pregnant, healthy or not”.
Dr Boyd’s final remarks further emphasized the need for more research on post-sepsis syndrome. As part of their studies, the students will be reviewing the Surviving Sepsis Campaign clinical guidelines for managing sepsis. Over 50 pages long, these guidelines only cover the first hour to the first day of treatment, despite sepsis clearly having much longer effects. Hopefully, this event inspires future doctors and health researchers to engage in sepsis research, and leads to improved care for individuals who suffer from sepsis – both in hospital and after discharge.