Haemodialysis was also started as renal replacement therapy. Patient also developed COVID encephalopathy
Medica Group of Hospitals successfully treated and discharged patient Abhishek Ray who was detected with COVID pneumonia. Medica gave ECMO support and recovered the patient from the deadly virus.
Abhishek Ray, 54 years, was admitted at Medica Superspecialty Hospital with history of fever for a week on May 25, 2020. He was found COVID-19 RT-PCR positive subsequently. Post admission, his oxygenation status deteriorated, and he was put on ventilator on May 27, 2020. Despite putting him on ventilation with 100 per cent oxygen, his oxygen level continued to decline to 44 per cent with rising carbon dioxide. Veno venous ECMO was instituted on the night of May 28, 2020, as a rescue mechanism for improving the oxygen and carbon dioxide levels in his blood. Haemodialysis was also started as renal replacement therapy. Patient also developed COVID encephalopathy.
Tracheostomy was done on Abhishek on June 3, 2020. On gradual improvement of his lung function, ECMO was weaned off on June 8, 2020 after 12 long days of ECMO run. Ventilation was continued till his pulmonary function improved significantly. Tracheostomy was decannulated on June 23, 2020.
Dr Kunal Sarkar, Senior Vice Chairman, Medica Superspecialty Hospital, has said, “ECMO support in severe COVID pneumonia has proved its definite role in Europe and North America in more than thousand cases where all the ventilatory measures fail. In Eastern India ECMO Team of Medica is providing this novel support in severe COVID patients. Abhishek’s recovery from COVID-19 with ECMO support will definitely show an enlightening way forward in severe COVID management.”
Speaking on this occasion, Dr Alok Roy, Chairman, Medica Group of Hospitals said, “The times are difficult for each one of us, and in the midst of such surroundings, when we see that critical COVID patients are getting cured and going home, it gives us immense hope that this phase too shall pass.”
Abhishek was discharged on June 25, 2020 after a month’s stay at Medica. His kidney function has improved, and he was happy to go home and have a healthy life.