Some Doctors Concerned about Ventilators for Virus Patients
2020-04-14
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1Health officials around the world are asking for more ventilators to treat coronavirus patients.
2There are a few doctors, however, who are moving away from using the machines.
3The reason: Some hospitals have reported unusually high death rates for coronavirus patients on ventilators.
4Some doctors worry that the machines could be harming patients with some conditions.
5Doctors are still learning the best way to control the virus, which appeared only a few months ago.
6Some doctors are making decisions quickly as they face a large number of patients and too few medical supplies.
7Mechanical ventilators push oxygen into the lungs of sick patients.
8Using the machines means putting the patient to sleep and pushing a tube into their throat.
9Deaths in patients who need ventilators are common.
10About 40 percent to 50 percent of patients with severe breathing problems die while on ventilators, experts say.
11But 80 percent or more of coronavirus patients placed on the machines in New York City have died, state and city officials say.
12Higher-than-normal death rates also have been reported in other places in the U.S., said Dr. Albert Rizzo.
13He is the American Lung Association's chief medical officer.
14Similar reports have come from China and Britain.
15One British report said that 66 percent of those put on ventilators died.
16A very small study from Wuhan, the Chinese city where the disease first appeared, said 86 percent died.
17The reason is not clear.
18Some experts said it might have to do with the health of the patients before they were infected.
19Or, it could be related to how sick the patients had become by the time they were put on the machines.
20But health officials have wondered whether ventilators might be making the situation worse in some patients.
21Experts say ventilators can be damaging to a patient because of the pressure on the lungs as the oxygen is forced in over time.
22"We know that mechanical ventilation is not benign,"said Dr. Eddy Fan.
23He is with Toronto General Hospital.
24"We have to be careful how we use it," he added.
25But some doctors say they are trying to keep patients off ventilators as long as possible.
26They are using other medical technology instead.
27Only a few weeks ago in New York City, very sick coronavirus patients were put on ventilators to keep them breathing, said Dr. Joseph Habboushe.
28He is an emergency room doctor who works in Manhattan hospitals.
29But physicians are trying other treatments first.
30One includes giving patients oxygen through tubes in the nose; another is having patients lie in different positions to let air into the lungs.
31He said those decisions are separate from worries that there are not enough ventilators in the United States.
32That is also a worry, Habboushe added.
33There are reports that coronavirus patients are usually on ventilators much longer than other patients, said Dr. William Schaffner.
34He is an infectious diseases expert at Vanderbilt University.
35Experts say before coronavirus, a patient was on a ventilator for only one or two days.
36Coronavirus patients use ventilators for up to 15 days, and they are dying.
37The long 15-day period is the reason doctors are worried about a shortage of ventilators.
38As cases increase, doctors may be forced to decide who gets one and who does not.
39I'm Bryan Lynn.
1Health officials around the world are asking for more ventilators to treat coronavirus patients. There are a few doctors, however, who are moving away from using the machines. 2The reason: Some hospitals have reported unusually high death rates for coronavirus patients on ventilators. Some doctors worry that the machines could be harming patients with some conditions. 3Doctors are still learning the best way to control the virus, which appeared only a few months ago. Some doctors are making decisions quickly as they face a large number of patients and too few medical supplies. 4Mechanical ventilators push oxygen into the lungs of sick patients. Using the machines means putting the patient to sleep and pushing a tube into their throat. Deaths in patients who need ventilators are common. 5About 40 percent to 50 percent of patients with severe breathing problems die while on ventilators, experts say. But 80 percent or more of coronavirus patients placed on the machines in New York City have died, state and city officials say. 6Higher-than-normal death rates also have been reported in other places in the U.S., said Dr. Albert Rizzo. He is the American Lung Association's chief medical officer. 7Similar reports have come from China and Britain. One British report said that 66 percent of those put on ventilators died. A very small study from Wuhan, the Chinese city where the disease first appeared, said 86 percent died. 8The reason is not clear. Some experts said it might have to do with the health of the patients before they were infected. Or, it could be related to how sick the patients had become by the time they were put on the machines. 9But health officials have wondered whether ventilators might be making the situation worse in some patients. 10Experts say ventilators can be damaging to a patient because of the pressure on the lungs as the oxygen is forced in over time. 11"We know that mechanical ventilation is not benign,"said Dr. Eddy Fan. He is with Toronto General Hospital. "We have to be careful how we use it," he added. 12But some doctors say they are trying to keep patients off ventilators as long as possible. They are using other medical technology instead. 13Only a few weeks ago in New York City, very sick coronavirus patients were put on ventilators to keep them breathing, said Dr. Joseph Habboushe. He is an emergency room doctor who works in Manhattan hospitals. 14But physicians are trying other treatments first. One includes giving patients oxygen through tubes in the nose; another is having patients lie in different positions to let air into the lungs. 15He said those decisions are separate from worries that there are not enough ventilators in the United States. That is also a worry, Habboushe added. 16There are reports that coronavirus patients are usually on ventilators much longer than other patients, said Dr. William Schaffner. He is an infectious diseases expert at Vanderbilt University. 17Experts say before coronavirus, a patient was on a ventilator for only one or two days. Coronavirus patients use ventilators for up to 15 days, and they are dying. The long 15-day period is the reason doctors are worried about a shortage of ventilators. As cases increase, doctors may be forced to decide who gets one and who does not. 18I'm Bryan Lynn. 19The Associated Press reported this story. Susan Shand adapted it for Learning English. Mario Ritter, Jr.was the editor. 20________________________________________________________________ 21Words in This Story 22ventilator- n. a machine that mechanically forces air into the lungs of a sick patient to keep them breathing 23mechanical- adj. related to the work or operation of a machine 24benign- adj. not causing harm