The 43-year old British pilot of the Viet Nam Airlines, the nation’s most critically-ill COVID-19 patient (patient numbered 91), has continued showing his miraculous recovery after undergoing 100 days of treatment.

The 43-year old British pilot of the Viet Nam Airlines, the nation’s most critically-ill
COVID-19 patient (patient numbered 91), continues showing his miraculous recovery
after undergoing 100 days of treatment.

According to the information of the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control on early June 26, after more than three months of treatment at Ho Chi Minh City Hospital for Tropical Diseases and Cho Ray Hospital, he has been disconnected from a mechanical ventilation machine for 14 days with normal indicators, good recovery and better psychology. 

He has no cough and can make verbal communication. His hand and foot muscles have mostly recovered. The patient can himself turn around the bed and stand up, walk a few steps and receive oral food supplements.

Here are summary of his treatment process: 

On March 17, he got fever and cough and went to Ho Chi Minh City Hospital for Tropical Diseases for medical checks and was then hospitalized due to right lung tissue damage.

On March 20, he was confirmed contracting the virus. Since his admission to the hospital, his testing results have been mixed. He weighs 100 kg and is 1.83 meters tall with body mass index (BMI) of 30.1.

On April 6, the patient’s health suddenly got worse quickly with condensed lungs at times. The doctors had to put him on the life support machine called the Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO).

On May 4, he was tested negative for the virus over the past four days but still remained in critical condition.

On May 19, the rate of blood clots in the lungs of the British pilot went down to nearly 80%, instead of 90% as in recent times, igniting big hopes for the patient to be saved.

The results of brain CT scans showed no suspected damage as cerebral infarction or hemorrhage.

On May 21, he was transferred to Cho Ray Hospital from Ho Chi Minh City Hospital for Tropical Diseases for further treatment.

On June 2, he regained consciousness after being comatose for months and been able to respond to instructions by healthcare workers.

X-ray image of his lungs showed that more than half of the left lung has completely recovered while the right lung began to improve.

On June 4, the British COVID-19 patient was disconnected from ECMO following signs of recovery.

He regained consciousness from the coma and could unlock his phone and iPad with passwords, talk to doctors, swing arms and legs, write on a board, and practice walking with health workers’ help.

On June 20, he was in his eighth day of being disconnected from the mechanical ventilation machine and no longer requires full oxygen support during the daytime. At night, he is assisted with 0.5 liters of oxygen per minute.

The patient is fully conscious and is able to communicate well. His latest CT scan indicates that his lung volume has returned to 90% of their original capacity.

“He now can leave the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) for rehabilitation and return to his homeland as soon as necessary procedures that make it possible for him to leave are completed,” said Assoc Prof Pham Thi Ngoc Thao, deputy director of the hospital in HCM City.