Doctors of the Hanoi-based Central Hospital of Tropical Diseases are considering applying the ECMO therapy for a COVID-19 patient who is suffering from severe pneumonia.

ECMO is used for patients in serious health condition. (Illustative photo).

ECMO - extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, also known as extracorporeal life support - is an extracorporeal technique of providing prolonged cardiac and respiratory support to persons whose heart and lungs are unable to provide an adequate amount of gas exchange or perfusion to sustain life.

The 61-year-old female patient returning from the United State is suffering from very serious lung damage (over 75%) and severe respiratory distress, said Dr. Nguyen Trung Cap, deputy head of the hospital.

The patient is currently on a ventilator to temporarily control breathing, and if the situation gets worse, the ECMO treatment will be given, added the doctor.

According to Dr. Cap, alongside the extensive lung damage, laboratory readings show the patient suffers from a ‘Cytokine storm’ syndrome, an overreaction of the immune system.

“The patient has undergone a thyroidectomy surgery that can affect the parathyroid glands leading to electrolyte disturbances, causing many other symptoms. Therefore, we are monitoring the developments very closely,” said Dr. Cap.

The patient returned from the US on December 21, 2020 and tested positive 10 days later. She was immediately transferred to the Central Hospital of Tropical Diseases for medical observation and treatment.