Two COVID-19 Patients in Critical Condition... Treated with ECMO and Ventilators (Update)

On the afternoon of the 21st, when the second death from the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) occurred, a confirmed patient hospitalized at Cheongdo Daenam Hospital in Gyeongbuk was being transferred to Busan National University Hospital.

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Dae-yeol] Among domestic patients infected with the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), some have been identified as being in critical condition. Previously, there were patients who had underlying diseases and died after being infected with COVID-19, raising concerns about additional casualties.

Jung Eun-kyung, head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters for COVID-19, stated at a briefing on the 22nd, "Currently, there are two patients considered to be in critical condition: one is being treated with ECMO, and the other is on mechanical ventilation through endotracheal intubation." ECMO (Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation) works by drawing blood out of the body, oxygenating it, and returning it to the body. It is used for patients whose heart and lungs are not functioning properly. Mechanical ventilation via endotracheal intubation is also a device used to treat patients who cannot breathe on their own.

According to Director Jung, there are about six patients who are somewhat more stable than these two but are receiving oxygen therapy using oxygen masks. Oxygen masks are used when patients can breathe on their own but have decreased oxygen saturation due to pneumonia or other conditions.

Excluding these two patients, the health authorities believe that about 17 patients who were confirmed positive after being at Daenam Hospital in Cheongdo, Gyeongbuk, are also in need of intensive care. Severe patients are being transferred to nearby government-designated isolation beds for treatment. The patient who was transferred to Busan the previous day and died was also a patient receiving psychiatric treatment at Daenam Hospital until just before, and Director Jung explained that pneumonia caused by COVID-19 is currently considered the cause of death.

Director Jung said, "Because it was severe pneumonia, the decision was made to transfer the patient to a tertiary general hospital capable of intensive care, and the closest available government-designated isolation bed at the time was assigned, which is why the patient was sent to Busan."