Virus Patients Recover Due To Heart - Lung Machine
A survey by Japanese doctors shows a majority of patients who underwent therapy with a heart-lung machine are recovering from serious conditions caused by the new coronavirus.
The survey shows at least 23 coronavirus patients across Japan had received the treatment involving extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, also known as ECMO.
An ECMO machine helps respiratory and cardiac functions, such as pumping oxygen into blood. It allows the patient's heart and lungs to rest while waiting for immune systems to defeat pathogens.
The survey shows none of the 23 patients have died and that 12 of them finished the ECMO treatment and are now recovering.
The doctors say the ECMO therapy requires specialized medical techniques. They also say Japan's medical system allows roughly 300 coronavirus patients to receive the treatment at one time.
Doctor Shinhiro Takeda says it has become clear that ECMO can save a certain percentage of patients in severe conditions. He adds doctors will work harder to improve the accuracy of the therapy nationwide.
The survey covered about 300 medical institutions across Japan. It was conducted by organizations, including the Japanese Society of Intensive Care Medicine and the Japanese Association for Acute Medicine.
A report by a joint mission of the World Health Organization and China says approximately 80 percent of laboratory confirmed patients of the coronavirus have had mild to moderate symptoms while 6.1 percent have been in critical condition.
