Although the majority of inpatients develop moderate cases of the new coronavirus, there are not a few who have to fight for their lives – it is estimated that about 15% of Covid-19 patients need medical attention, TV3 reports.
Riga East Clinical University Hospital currently treats most Covid-19 patients. Most of them – in the Latvian Center of Infectious Diseases, some – in the Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases Center, another part – in the inpatient “Gaiļezers”. The course of the disease in humans is very different. From less dangerous complications to a really critical condition in which patients have problems with many or all of their vital organ systems as a result of the worsening of Covid-19 symptoms.
“Some of the patients treated in our ward need additional oxygen therapy. These are patients who may also experience respiratory symptoms – cough, shortness of breath. Patients who have symptoms of this respiratory failure – fever, weakness, fatigue, no strength to even get out of bed. The symptoms are many and varied. There are also groups of patients who complain of headaches, ”says Oleg Shuba, a resuscitator and head of the Toxicology and Sepsis Clinic at Riga East Clinical University Hospital (RKUS).
Monta Madelāne, the head of the Dangerous Infectious Diseases Department of RKUS, says that the majority of those admitted to this department are discharged and continue treatment at home under the supervision of a family doctor. However, there is no shortage of patients who are being resuscitated, including those whose life doctors are unable to save. The statistics are alarming – there have been 86 Covid-19 patients in serious condition in all the hospitals of the Eastern Hospital so far – 83 of them have already died.
RAKUS Head of the Department of Dangerous Infections Monta Madelāne
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“Here, in the Department of Toxicology and Sepsis, the most severely ill are treated – people who are unable to fight the dangerous virus on their own or with the help of medication. As the symptoms of both Covid-19 and comorbidities progress, organ or other organ failure develops, requiring intensive care. ”
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Meanwhile, the head of the Toxicology and Sepsis Clinic of Riga East Clinical University Hospital (RKUS) Oleg Shuba points out that the clinic also worked with its profile with sepsis and toxicology patients, but their proportion has decreased. Covid-19 patients currently predominate and, compared to one-third of the clinic’s patients, they now account for almost two-thirds of the clinic’s intensive care capacity. “These are patients who have, among other things, Covid-19 or Covid-19 determine the course. So patients who are positive for Covid-19 but have side effects and they are different, ”he says.
A severe Covid-19 patient usually means that the person is no longer able to stand up on their own. In rare cases, they are able to drink themselves. Although most people over the age of 60 are in a difficult situation, it is a mistake to think that Covid-19 only severely affects the elderly, and young people are also struggling for life. In addition, without comorbidities.
Oleg Shuba, Head of Toxicology and Sepsis Clinic, Riga East Clinical University Hospital (RKUS)
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Here is the question of which patients get to the reaction and, of course, not here in Gaiļezers, but in the RKUS infectology center there were 25-year-olds, but often age is not always decisive, the decisive factor is the pathology. The youngest of us was 47 years old, the male family is more often in a more difficult situation. ”
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In addition, age is not the determining factor, the possibility of recovery from a serious condition depends to a large extent on the side diseases and the ability of the human body to fight the virus. In addition, it should be noted here that not all patients are aware of possible co-morbidities when they enter the hospital.
Oleg Shuba, Head of Toxicology and Sepsis Clinic, Riga East Clinical University Hospital (RKUS)
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“There are patients that we can save and it depends on the resource of the patient’s body, if it is sufficient, then the prognosis of recovery is much better, because there are more side pathologies, because these recovery reserves for the patient are lower. We start with a treatment that is less invasive. Then, if the situation progresses and resources are scarce, we are forced to use more aggressive methods, including artificial lung ventilation, then it is clear that the prognosis is much worse. ”
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Asked how much chance a patient who needs artificial lung ventilation has to squat, the doctor does not hide – invasive lung ventilation is the last “straw”. Therefore, doctors tirelessly do their best to avoid this manipulation.
Oleg Shuba, Head of Toxicology and Sepsis Clinic, Riga East Clinical University Hospital (RKUS)
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“We try to really use all possible other resources so that the patient asks the invasive not to come. Of course, when we start using already invasive artificial lung ventilation, it means that all previous lung methods have exhausted their capacity and we are forced to use a more aggressive method. The question here, of course, is at what stage we connect, because we are already aware that if the patient has to be closed to artificial invasive ventilation, then, accordingly, the prognosis is much worse for him. ”
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The length of time Covid-19 patients spend in intensive care varies widely. There has been a case when a person spends 23 days in resuscitation. Physicians also do not hide their concern about the deterioration of the situation, as the number of patients may not be sufficient to help those who are progressing and need aggressive treatment.
