Hyderabad: Swine Flu is hitting badly in the state with the 56 positive cases of H1N1 infection reported in the first 20 days itself.
According to Times of India, four died and the other on Friday, the recent victim of dangerous virus was 60-year-old Pushpalatha, a resident of Puranapul, who succumbed while battling for her life and is been kept ventilator support for three days at Gandhi Hospital on Friday.
The patient is been bought to the hospital in a very critical condition and on the last moment.
Dr JV Reddy, the superintendent of Gandhi Hospital said, “She (Pushpalatha) came in late from a private hospital and had comorbidity. Besides H1N1 infection, she was simultaneously battling thyroid, diabetes, heart problem and hypertension,” they develop Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS).
Last-stage swine flu patients often develop Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS), which is why they are put on ventilator support.
However, critically-ill patients can often be saved with Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) — the last treatment option.
“There is no such facility here. We are providing only ventilator support for last stage patients,” said Dr Reddy.
Dr T Narsinga Reddy, chairman of Aarogyasri Private Network Hospitals, Telangana said, “We are helpless as the government’s 2015 circular tell us not to treat a confirmed swine flu patient unless he or she develops ARDS. Even if a hospital treats an H1N1 positive patient with an Aarogyasri card, no amount can be claimed later if the patient did not develop ARDS. ”
Dr Gopal, senior consultant intensivist at Continental Hospital said, “Any swine flu patient whose lungs are severely damaged due to pneumonia or ARDS and cannot be managed through conventional ventilation can benefit from ECMO. It is an invasive procedure with tubes going into the major blood vessels of the body for drawing out and pumping in blood.”
Patients with swine flu and develops ARDS in the last stage which was directed by the Private empanelled Aarogyasri hospitals
Dr T Narsinga Reddy, chairman of Aarogyasri Private Network Hospitals, Telangana said, “We are helpless as the government’s 2015 circular tell us not to treat a confirmed swine flu patient unless he or she develops ARDS. Even if a hospital treats an H1N1 positive patient with an Aarogyasri card, no amount can be claimed later if the patient did not develop ARDS. “