Clinical Picture of Coronavirus...

[BigDemVoter]

Maybe already posted? Someone sent me this as I work in a hospital. So far, we have been extraordinarily fortunate that we have not yet been overrun in San Francisco. This article terrifies me. I have been working night shift tonight & every time an ambulance arrives, I feel like I want to jump out of my skin. . . I used to not be like this, and I'm a bit ashamed.

https://bluevirginia.us/2020/04/new-orleans-er-doc-describes-typical-clinical-course-recommended-treatment-of-covid-19

[Phoenix61]

1. Thanks for posting. I was surprised

proning (had to look it up) was recommended. I would have thought sitting up would be best but I guess lying down allows the lungs to expand all the way. More room for the diaphragm to drop down into the abdomen.

[BigDemVoter]

3. Yeah, it IS counterintuitive.

I worked in ICU many years ago, and we were doing it then which required a lot of work with patients on ventilator, as it required several staff members lift patient without pulling out tube or any IV lines while turning patient over. Generally we saw a marked improvement in oxygen saturation while proned. For the life of me, I cannot remember the rationale, but it DID work.

[Squinch]

2. Wow. That is valuable. But this is horrifying: "Basically, if they're in my ER, they have it."

Even his patients who come in for completely unrelated complaints.

[spinbaby]

4. Most patients on ventilators die

That was a surprise to me. I wonder how the ones that recover after ventilators do and how much rehab they need.

[Mike 03]

5. This is really something to study.

When this physician writes that many patients are coming in hypoxic without shortness of breath, is that noteworthy? I mean, is that unusual? I'm wondering, what are some symptoms of hypoxia if you're not experiencing difficulty breathing? Does that mean these patients can "fill their lungs" with a full breath when they breathe, but their bodies still aren't getting enough oxygen?

I'm printing this out and will share it with others.

Kick.