A COVID-19 patient in Da Nang city, central Vietnam, has received ECMO, a sophisticated therapy to save patients in critical condition. 

Taking care of seriously ill COVID-19 patients at
National Hospital of Tropical Diseases in Hanoi.

The 79-year-old patient, who returned from the US and stayed in Da Nang on January 13, has been given the life support therapy - extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) – after turn critical, according to the National Steering Committee on COVID-19 Prevention and Control.

After 3 days of hospitalization, the patient’s condition deteriorated rapidly, with severe lung damage. The patient showed signs of basal coagulation and mild systemic edema, requiring intensive treatment, including an ECMO therapy, mechanical ventilation and dialysis.

Experts held four national consultations and agreed the patient is at a high risk of death, as he suffers from diabetes (type II) and hypertension.

Elsewhere doctors are taking care of four other seriously-ill COVID-19 patients in Hanoi and Quang Ninh.

So far Vietnam has recorded 1,978 coronavirus cases since the disease broke out in the country in late January 2020.

Da Nang was the country’s coronavirus hotspot when the second outbreak attacked the country in late July 2020. Thirty-five people have died of COVID-19 and related health issues, mostly in Da Nang.

Vietnam is dealing with another wave of COVID-19 after the virus recurred in Hai Duong and Quang Ninh provinces more than a week ago. The virus has spread to 12 cities and provinces across the country with 402 new cases confirmed.