Thread by @NeilFlochMD

After listening to a webinar from 5 Chinese #doctors in Wuhan, China who are in the middle of their outbreak - the following can be learned. 1/

Treatment: Much of the same medications and therapies are being used and developed worldwide with no dominant medication working the best. #Corticosteroids are being used, antivirals, #gammaglobulin, and #convalescentplasma 2/

#PPE is used with full gowns, gloves, n95 masks, and goggles for all #Covid19 patients- and hospital staff is housed by the government away from families 2/

Patients with #Covid19 who are positive asymptomatic or symptomatic should be kept separate until 2 tests are performed showing a negative result. 3/

Mild cases of positive patients are housed in field hospitals with medical oversight but may NOT have structured nursing ie one nurse for 100 people as they do et require active care but need to be kept away in another place such as a hotel. 4/

There is extensive testing which is rapid and widely available in #China. 5/

#CT scan is readily used for diagnostic purposes for the critically ill. In #China 6/

CPAP, Proning, and ECMO are all utilized. 7/

#Surgery on the #Covid19 patient should be performed with the open technique to lower the risk of (possible) aerosolization of virus and risk to staff. 8/

The performance of laparoscopy on patients who are NOT believed to have #Covid19 is less clear. 9/

The major differences between China & #US is prevention: 1. Less testing 2. No isolation of positives 3. Less #PPE for health workers 3. Less isolation of hospitalized patients 4. Inadequate supplies 5. Decreased healthcare physicians and workers 6. Less fed gov organization 10/