All Latvian hospitals that treat Covid-19 patients work in high-intensity conditions. LTV “Panorama” finds out how Riga East Clinical University Hospital works.
Jelena Savrasova, the head nurse of the Latvian Center for Infectious Diseases, says that more and more often soothing words are needed for oxygen, because Covid-19 patients are afraid of the oxygen mask and what is being done. “The department is full. There are a lot of people in a difficult situation. We are intubated with the devices. We try to help with everything we can – both medicine and care, we work, we do everything we need,” tells the doctor.
Of the 270 Covid-19 patients hospitalized at Riga East Hospital on Thursday morning, 86 are in the Infectious Diseases Center, 73 are in Gailezers, and 49 are in the Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases Center. Until Wednesday, there were no intubates or those attached to artificial lung ventilation at the Latvian Center for Infectious Diseases. On Thursday, unfortunately, the condition of the two became so severe that they could no longer breathe on their own.
Baiba Rozentāle, the chief doctor of the Infectious Diseases Center, says that there are ten times more devices in the hospital: “As for the devices, you see, artificial lung ventilation – the less the better. And we have the equipment; according to the project, which took place in late summer, autumn, all the wards where there was no oxygen supply have been set up, so people are breathing as much as they need, with nasal cannulas or a mask, of course, with a special device, but this is not intubation, we have 20 new lung devices, but thank you God, it is not necessary. And let it not be. “
The patient spends a week at the Covid-19 Infectious Diseases Center. On Thursday, for example, ten are discharged, but at least 20 can be admitted. However, there is one free bed left in intensive care. If there are two seriously ill, the other will be taken to another East Hospital resuscitation. And, if necessary, another hospital ward can be adapted specifically for Covid-19 patients.
“The average duration of treatment is seven days. If intubation is not required, we use Remdesivir and can be returned under the supervision of a family doctor. The hospital is moderately and severely ill, but 80% of patients are mildly or asymptomatically ill,” says Rozentāle.
However, other diseases due to Covid-19 have not been eliminated. In Pārdaugava, near Stradiņš Hospital, on Thursday, there are more emergency medical personnel in protective clothing than those who brought patients without the virus. Covid-19 patients who also have another serious illness are taken to Stradins Hospital. For example – a heart attack or stroke. Treatment of these diseases takes time, therefore three quarantine units have already been established in Stradiņi.
It has already been reported that during the Covid-19 outbreak in the spring, an emergency situation was declared in Latvia to control the new coronavirus.
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