I'm not really sure what to say anymore, besides the situation is horrible in Arizona and WE are on OUR OWN. 171 people died yesterday in Arizona. Think about that.. all those people on ventilators in ICUs that are overwhelmed are dying. More & more admitted each day. 1/5
In Yuma, Arizona this virus is sweeping through Mexican communities at an alarming rate. Some people have pulse oximeters and are bringing family members in earlier so I'm praying they have a better outcome. 2/5
Everyday is different in the ER. Some days I'm intubating 3 patients a shift, other days I'm just admitting hypoxic patients on nasal cannula and sometimes there are multiple cardiac arrests. You just never know. 3/5
Consider donating lunches, snacks etc to your local ERs and COVID units because these healthcare providers are under enormous strain. Gestures like these boost morale. 4/5
Lastly, shout-out to all my healthcare workers nationwide checking-in. This pandemic sucks, but knowing we are having this shared experience makes it bearable. We need a post-COVID conference in the future, so we can all meet, and VENT of course! 😷 /end
This is how my night in the ER went: 1. COVID 72% Room Air (RA) 2. COVID 75% RA 3. EtOH fall 4. Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA) 5. Urosepsis 6. Urosepsis 7. Altered Mental Status (AMS) 8. COVID 86% RA 9. Afib with RVR 10. COVID 85% RA with DKA 11. AMS with DKA
1/12
12. Deep Vein Thrombosis 13. Hyperkalemia from missed dialysis 14. COVID normal oxygen 15. Non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) 16. Renal Stone 17. Bradycardia 18. COVID + NSTEMI 19. COVID normal oxygen 20. Lip laceration
2/12
There are a few other patients, but last night was a GOOD night, because there were no super sick COVID patients on BiPap or needing intubation. 3/12
🧵COVID CHECK-IN #4 (12/28 - 1/3) Hey healthcare workers across the U.S. Can you check-in and let us know what you're seeing at your hospitals? Your voice is very important and is saving lives! Share as much or little as you like. I'll help amplify.
ALSO concerning are hospitals running out of hi-flow nasal cannula and BiPap machines used to prevent intubations (see below). In rationing care, patients +70 y.o. with many comorbidities will likely not get off a ventilator, so will not be provided one. This is wartime medicine!
43 y.o. Sara Montoya from El Paso, Texas shown here is on high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC), which can deliver up to 60 liters of oxygen per minute. Regular nasal cannula only delivers 15 L/min. We NEED MORE HFNCs!!! Sadly, Sara Montoya still died from COVID.
Renee Dermott, 52, sixth-grade teacher at Seven Springs Middle School in New Port Richey, Florida was placed on BiPap to provide better oxygenation. Sadly, Renee still died from COVID.
🧵 A personal thread on ASMYPTOMATIC spread. My brother’s family has COVID and my mom is exposed. “We didn’t want to worry you,” said my mom & brother, which is why I’m just finding out today. 1/10
TWO weeks ago, my brother’s ASMYPTOMATIC boss tested positive for COVID; he only got a test because his father became hypoxic and was hospitalized for COVID. 2/10
After testing positive, he notified my brother, who was tested on 12/15. My brother went to 4 different testing sites, b/c they kept running out of tests. He finally gave a saliva sample, but did not get results back till 6 days later on 12/21. It was positive for COVID. 3/10
🧵This beautiful soul has been in the ICU for 7 weeks on a ventilator because of COVID.
Zelene Blancas is a 35 y.o. first grade bilingual teacher in El Paso Texas who tested positive for COVID on October 20th. She did everything right, but tragically still got COVID. 1/6
Zelene is a close friend of a friend, so I've followed her hospital course closely. In Nov we were concerned when her oxygen levels began to drop, b/c I've seen this over & over again in young people. Sadly, her oxygen requirements continued to increase & she was intubated 2/6
She is a kind soul. Two years ago, her twitter video showing her young students taking turns giving each other a hug, handshake, high-five and fist bump to fellow classmates, while leaving the classroom at the end of the day went viral. 3/6
One of the most dangerous jobs amid the pandemic is being a respiratory therapist! They are at EVERY intubation and manage ventilators, as a result they are continuously exposed to deadly COVID aerosols & are under enormous emotional strain! 💔
Michael Bamgbopa, 67, Respiratory Therapist, Children's National Med Center, DC, died from COVID. He was a man of great integrity & strength who said what he meant and meant what he said. He leaves an adored wife and 2 daughters. h/t:@CTZebramedpagetoday.com/infectiousdise…
Baton Rogue General, Louisiana
William “Bill” Salmon, 66, Respiratory Therapist died from COVID on 5/7. 41 years to the day he started his healthcare career. He was a jokester, mentor, leader and advocate. h/t:@CTZebram.facebook.com/LALungConsulta…