[ad_1]
A father of two who nearly died after developing a sepsis thinks his condition could have been diagnosed earlier through a quick test, which, experts hope, will soon be available on the NHS.
Ryan Sutherland, of Clackmannanshire, Scotland, suffered two cardiac arrests and spent more than a week in a coma, several days after learning that his persistent sore throat was the result of a viral infection.
At 33 years old, this new test of sepsis, which can give a result in barely three minutes, could have made all the difference for his family.
Mr. Sutherland and his daughters, after coming out of coma (Family Document / AP)Mr. Sutherland, who has two young girls, visited his general practitioner in November 2015 after developing a sore throat, but was told that he was suffering from the virus and was sent home him without treatment.
"As the week went on, the situation got worse and on Thursday it was really bad," said Sutherland.
"That night, my wife took me to the doctor outside of work hours. At this point, I was really sick and I could not move anymore.
"But I was given an anti-sickness injection, and then I was sent home."
He then collapsed and was transported to the hospital.
When his wife, Melanie, 29, arrived just 20 minutes later, Sutherland suffered two cardiac arrests and was in intensive care.
She was told that her husband was in septic shock and was seriously ill.
"His body was starting to close. It was terrifying. They said that it might not last at night, "she said.
Mr. Sutherland spent eight days in a coma before waking up.
He had lost three pounds of weight and was so weak that he had trouble walking at first.
The couple said that a new rapid test of sepsis, developed by researchers at Strathclyde University, could have saved them from the ordeal.
Researchers at Strathclyde have developed a technology that allows for a rapid test of sepsis, which could save thousands of lives. #sepsis #research @UKSepsisTrust https://t.co/t44zaVMIZm
– Strathclyde Kingdom (@UniStrathclyde) February 19, 2019
"We know we are lucky because other people who have had sepsis as serious as Ryan have died or lost a limb," Sutherland said.
"If this test had been available, it could have made a huge difference for us."
For the moment, the diagnosis can take up to 72 hours.
Mr. Sutherland said, "Nobody mentioned sepsis although, in hindsight, I had all the symptoms.
"It's hard to diagnose, so if this test had been organized, it could have made all the difference for what had happened to me."
[ad_2]
Source link
