CHATROOM

OVERVIEW OF THE MANAGEMENT OF CRITICALLY ILL COVID-19 PATIENTS

Speaker: Jude Eric Cinco, MD

The current health crisis has affected humanity resulting in serious health concerns that escalate the number of Intensive Care Unit (ICU) patients. Undeniably, it brought terrible challenges among hospital professionals working in the ICU setting. Considering that the disease is new to the knowledge of many, most of the healthcare providers are not fully-armed in the regulation of infected individuals. Hence, it plunges a bigger responsibility among healthcare workers to delve more rigorously into learning the disease’s causes and consequences.

Dr. Jude Eric Cinco, who is among the pundits in the field of Cardiology, has given an overview of the Management of Critically ill COVID-19 patients to further education among healthcare providers. He started sharing insights about the repercussions of the virus to humans.

According to him, the infectious disease affects the lungs, which can cause acute respiratory failure type 1, acute respiratory, and distress syndrome. As for the heart, it may lead to myocardial injury, myocarditis, shock, heart failure, and arrhythmias. Kidneys are no exemption to the attack of viral infection, as one may suffer from nephropathy and acute kidney injury. It was also proven that it results in encephalopathy. Likewise, sepsis, coagulopathy, cytokine storm, anosmia, dysgeusia, and skin lesions are some effects that patients may experience when infected by the disease. However, there are more unidentified consequences which the health professionals are still studying.

Furthermore, Dr. Cinco expressed the significant roles of every member of the squad when dealing with critically ill COVID-19 patients. The ICU Team, which is composed of nurses, pharmacists, Internal Medicine residents, Intensivist, respiratory therapists, nutritionists, and physical therapists, exhibits individual expertise towards a common goal. Dr. Cinco echoed that there is no hierarchy in the squad, as every role is critical in the management of critically-ill COVID-19 patients. He also reiterated that their team relies on trust and open communication.

Preparation in the ICU team is crucial, which involves research, work system, initiation of airway drills, familiarization with the equipment, having personal protective equipment (PPE), and observing personal safety habits. In the virtual discussion, Dr. Jude stated the significance of the ICU head-to-toe approach covering the assessment, planning, and monitoring of the response. The said strategy implies a care plan to resolve conditions manifested by parameter within time.

For further details, play the video above and enjoy learning with Dr. Cinco!