"It might have been dead" ECMO testifies to new corona patient recovering

"It might have been dead" New Corona patient recovering at ECMO testifies May 19 19:12

A male patient who became serious due to the exacerbation of pneumonia due to the new coronavirus recovered after receiving advanced treatment using an artificial heart-lung machine called "ECMO" at Fukuoka University Hospital, and a negative test resulted in another hospital. I moved to. According to the interview with NHK, the man said, "I got worse in a moment," and said that the symptoms had suddenly worsened.

According to the Fukuoka University Hospital Emergency and Critical Care Center, a man in his thirties in Fukuoka Prefecture who was severely ill after the infection was confirmed on the 13th of last month and was treated with "ECMO" at another hospital was transferred to the center on the 20th of last month. It has been done.

It means that the amount of oxygen taken up in the body of men decreased to less than one-fifth of the general population due to the exacerbation of pneumonia. The center has four ECMOs in a dedicated bed for receiving patients infected with the new coronavirus, one of which provides advanced treatment to send oxygen to the blood and keep the lungs alive. It means that I have recovered.

The man was negative on both virus tests, so on the 1st, he was sent off by a doctor and a nurse and headed to another hospital for further recovery.

A man was told by NHK before he was transferred to the hospital that his stairs at home, which had never been seen in the morning, became short of breath when he climbed into the afternoon. After he was diagnosed with pneumonia in the hospital, he suddenly became worse. I gave a testimony of what I did.

He also told doctors who treated ECMO, "I might have died without a teacher. I'm just grateful."

"It was only a moment to get worse."

Detailed testimony of a male patient who recovered after receiving advanced treatment using ECMO.

According to a man, around the 13th of last month, the stairs of his house, which had not been seen in the morning, suddenly became short of breath at noon, and for the first time he felt that it was "funny".

At that time, he had a fever of around 37 degrees, and he had no particular symptoms, but when he visited a hospital, he was diagnosed with pneumonia and was confirmed to have been infected with the new coronavirus.

According to the Fukuoka University Hospital Emergency and Critical Care Center, a man was given a ventilator and ECMO at another hospital on the 18th of last month, and was transferred to the center on the 20th.

About the process during this period, the man said that he had little memory, in addition to being told by his doctor and family that he would either wake up or die when he was supposed to be wearing a ventilator. When I woke up, it was the current hospital. "

The man said, "It was only momentary to get worse. I didn't expect it to be so easy."

Regarding the treatment with ECMO, the man explained that his parents said, "There are few people who can use ECMO properly. I think that the teachers here have moved to the hospital because they can use ECMO." No. It's amazing that about 20 people were working in this hospital to help one of us, and maybe I was dead without my teacher. "

He also said from his own experience of fighting illness, "It is better to think that breathlessness is bad. I can not be careful in the moment that it gets worse, but if there is someone I can rely on, it is better to rely."

What is the artificial heart-lung machine "ECMO"?

The artificial heart-lung machine called "ECMO" is used for the treatment of serious patients whose pneumonia caused by the new coronavirus is aggravated and which is difficult to respond to with a ventilator.

It is a system that attaches two tubes to the body, takes out blood, artificially dissolves oxygen and removes carbon dioxide, and then returns it to the body, temporarily acting the function of the lungs and resting the lungs. I have a goal. In the meantime, wait for the patient's own immunity to clear the virus and recover.

According to Fukuoka Prefecture, there are at least 61 hospitals in the prefecture as of the 9th of last month.

When the Japan Society for Intensive Care Medicine and the Japan Emergency Medicine Society surveyed medical institutions nationwide, at least 90 people received this treatment as of the 20th of last month. Of these, 35 were on the way to recovery after finishing ECMO treatment, but 17 died.

Effects and challenges ...

Hiroyasu Ishikura, Director of the Emergency and Critical Care Center of Fukuoka University Hospital, who is in charge of this treatment, said that "ECMO" could not be used for all seriously ill patients and was effective in treating severely ill patients. It is said that a system to use it is required.

According to the center, at the time of admission, this patient became serious due to the exacerbation of pneumonia, and the amount of oxygen taken up by the body fell to less than one-fifth of the general population, which was a serious and fatal medical condition. Is that.

Director Ishikura said, “The condition of my lungs had worsened just a few hours before the transfer, and I couldn't carry it if it was a day later. It's progressing very fast, including other patients.” I pointed out.

"I was able to fulfill my responsibilities, but I am thinking of accepting the next patient," he said of the patient's discharge.

On the other hand, Director Ishikura said, "Unfortunately, it is not possible to mount ECMO on patients who have no prospect of recovery, because there are certain conditions for wearing ECMO." Did.

Also, timing is important for treatment using ECOMO, “If the ventilation device is worn for a long time, the best timing for ECMO wearing may be missed. The patient who needs ECMO may be detected early and miss the timing. It is very important that there is no such thing. In order to improve the lifesaving rate, it is necessary to consolidate patients to the facilities that can handle it. ”He said that it is necessary to create a system to effectively use ECMO.

The center has been working on ECMO treatment by sending doctors to a training in Sweden, which is said to have a high standard, because the treatment of ECMO was effective overseas due to the outbreak of the new strain of influenza in 2009. about it.

Director Ishikura said, “I've come to fruition that I've prepared for a situation in which ECMO is absolutely necessary. I want to improve the level of doctors and others.”