Thread by @medicalaxioms

I have put together a @WhatsApp text thread with ER, IM hospitalist and plum/Crit care MDs from:
- Seattle
- UCSF
- LA
- DC
- Florida

Still looking for
- New York City
- Houston
- Chicago

#covid4MDs

Between us we have seen PUI and ~10 cases. We are also reviewing clinical experience from others which often comes in the forms of hastily hammered out tweets, emails and (yes) Facebook posts from busy tired front-line providers.

These testimonies are circulating. They are not peer-reviewed or vetted but as a practicing physician they ring clear and true and they re all we have.

Here’s what they describe:
- most patients older 60+
- still some recent travel and their 1° contacts also more from nursing homes
- the older the patient and more co-morbidities, the easier it is to miss or attribute to mimics: COPD, CHF, etc.

- patients come in on 2L, 12 hours later on face mask or non-invasive ventilation, 12 hours later intubated
- some patients improve after days on the vent only to suddenly die of sepsis “clamped down” or cardiac arrest
- most people are avoiding IV steroids unless 2° indication

The drug people are talking about is #remdesivir

gilead.com/purpose/advanc…

There are anecdotal stories of benefit out there. There is also a very limited supply and the priority remains oxygenating patients and supportive care.

If you get your hands on one of these person testimonies, emails, or Facebook posts, feel free to send me a copy, attachment or link on my DMs here. I will edit out any details and summarize as best I can. Thank you.

One more thing: this pandemic is a challenge of logistics. I am already hearing incredible stories of teamwork. Institutions in the US are already working to share ventilators and PPE.

There should be enough of everything to go around. There will be moments when another hospital has a surge and needs something. It is in our best interest to share and support one another to keep everyone up and running.