British COVID-19 patient numbered 91 remains critically ill but he is is getting better as front line doctors have no longer used thoracentesis to drain fluid from his lungs, according to the National Steering Committee. 

Doctors at Ho Chi Minh City Cho Ray Hospital put ECMO on patient 91.
Photo: Ministry of Health

The committee said he is still dependent a life support machine called Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) though he has no fever and his blood pressure is stable.

Computerized tomography scan shows that 90% of his lungs are condensed. In addition, he has multi-organ infections, thus doctors are focusing on infection treatment and health recovery before transfering him to Cho Ray Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City for possible lung transplant.

The patient, a Viet Nam Airline pilot, was hospitalized on March 18, becoming the sickest COVID-19 patient in Viet Nam so far.

Since his admission to Ho Chi Minh Hospital for Tropical Diseases, his testing results have been mixed. He weights 100 kg and 1.83 meters tall with body mass index (BMI) of 30.1.

As of Sunday afternoon, he has been tested negative for the virus for 10 consecutive days, the national steering committee said.

His body excessively responded to the virus, creating “cytokine storm” that attacks healthy cells. He has also been resistant to all types of domestic coagulant drugs, thus the Ministry of Health has had to buy drugs overseas for his treatment.

Since doctors announced possible lung transplant for the patient, nearly 50 people have volunteered to donate part of their lungs to the British national. The volunteers, aged between 21-71,  include doctors, reporters and ex-servicemen./.

Last updated at 5:35 pm