British pilot coronavirus patient says thanks to Vietnamese doctors
The British pilot talks with Assoc. Prof., Dr. Luong Ngoc Khue (rightmost) on June 16 |
On the afternoon of June 16, Assoc. Prof., Dr. Luong Ngoc Khue, Director-General of the ministry’s Department of Medical Examination and Treatment had a visit to encourage the spirit of the British pilot coronavirus patient in Ho Chi Minh-based Cho Ray Hospital.
At the time, the 43-year-old man was conscious, communicating well. He expressed his joy to be visited by Dr. Luong Ngoc Khue.
The patient said he felt much better, and also shared some information about his family. In particular, the British pilot also wants to thank the Vietnamese doctors who have devotedly taken care of him over the past time.
According to Assoc. Prof., Dr. Luong Ngoc Khue, the patient will need a lot of time to recover his leg muscle strengths. However, with his ability to stand up and walk now, the pilot is believed to further make miraculous recovery in coming time.
Assoc.Prof. Khue encouraged and expected patients to continue working closely with medical staff during treatment.
He is able to practice walking with help from doctors . |
By the afternoon of June 16, the British pilot has gotten off ventilators for 4 days. Currently he breathes with oxygen support reduced to 1.5 liters/minute.
The muscular strength of his arms is nearly normal. The muscular strength of two legs which was graded only 2/5 a few days ago, has improved to 4/5.
In addition, the respiratory strength of the patient also improved. He can cough up phlegm. Regarding digestive function, the patient was withdrawn from feeding tube. Now he feeds himself through mouth. His renal function has been restored, cardiac function, liver and pancreatic enzymes are normal.
The pilot now discontinues all antibiotics, leaving only antifungal, analgesic and anticoagulant prophylaxis for oral Xarelto. He receives physical therapy twice a day. Everyday in the morning, health workers still take him in wheelchair to sunbathe.
Earlier, the patient was admitted to hospital on March 18. Although hospitalized in a state of consciousness, his health conditions got worsen during the treatment. There were times when his lungs were almost frozen, he must use ECMO for nearly 60 days. Doctors used to think that a lung transplant was the only way to save him.
To date, he undergone 90 days of treatment. He has been discontinued from dialysis from May 27, disconnected from ECMO since June 3 and stopped mechanical ventilator since June 12.
Once-bedridden, British pilot coronavirus patient now can sit up and move legs by his own The British pilot who is Vietnam’s most critical ill coronavirus patient is making miraculous recovery. On the evening of June 8, he could able to ... |
International readers praise Vietnam’s efforts in saving British pilot COVID-19 patient In the latest update of the British pilot - known as “patient 91” in Vietnam - posted in the UK-based Daily Mail, Vietnam’s efforts in ... |
British pilot, the most serious COVID-19 patient in Vietnam, on path to recovery Vietnam’s most gravely-ill COVID-19 patient, a British pilot who works for its national airline, has started to recover from the illness and may no longer ... |