Critically ill British patient continued making a miraculous recovery on June 13 when he became disconnected from a ventilator and now can breathe through a tracheal tube, according to health professionals.

The British patient sits in a wheelchair and sunbathes in the hospital's balcony

Dr Luong Ngoc Khue, Director of the Health Ministry’s Department for Medical Examination and Treatment, said nine days after being disconnected from ECMO, a life support machine, the patient now does not need mechanical ventilation and can breathe on his own through a tracheal tube, with an oxygen flow reaching 3 litres per minute.   

The patient’s respiratory function has been improved as he is able to breathe on his own for 24 hours, said Khue, adding that he was only prescribed a type of antibiotics instead of two as previously.   

The good news came beyond doctors’ expectations, because they earlier believed it would take the patient weeks to be disconnected from mechanical ventilation. This also indicated that his lungs have gone on to recover very quickly.

In addition, the patient is able to take in 1,250ml of mashed soup and milk every day. He is conscious and can communicate well with others. Yet, his two legs remain weak and he needs time for a complete recovery through functional rehabilitation. 

Two days ago, the patient could sit firmly in a wheelchair and sunbathed in the balcony of Cho Ray Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City where he is receiving treatment. He could get up in bed, move hands and legs, write on the board and use his mobile phone. 

A representative from the hospital said the patient was lung infection bacteria free, with the latest sputum culture results coming back negative.

The British patient, who was infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus on March 18 and dubbed patient 91, is the most severe case in Vietnam.