Hi doctor, My uncle has been admitted to a hospital, after a week of high-grade fever along with a cough, which gradually increased. They took a chest x-ray and blood tests and confirmed that it is pneumonia, and my uncle was on O2. He was also suspected for swine flu, and we waited for the reports, but gradually his lungs functioning started diminishing. He showed pO2 levels of 60 in ABG at this time. But the CT scan of the lungs depicted bilateral infection. But, the doctor treating him took it reluctantly and was waiting for the swine flu report. H1N1 was negative, yet his breathing became a major problem. All this happened in two days, on the night of the second day, he was almost closing his eyes with a fever of 101 F and pO2 levels of 54 in ABG. He was shifted to ICU and was put on NIV. The next morning he did not improve, and his pO2 levels were 45. So, we shifted him to a better hospital, who again put him in an isolated ward, suspecting H1N1, but diagnosed it typical pneumonitis. All other parameters of his were normal, but he was put on a ventilator. Here also H1N1 report was negative, but the pulmonologist said that the pictures depict swine flu. The team said that he his struggling in the ventilator too, but since all other vitals are stable they promised us that he would recover slowly. On the ventilator, he showed pO2 levels of 90, but the respiratory element in the monitor showed 25 to 35. He was on the ventilator for seven days, in between they tried weaning, but he could not tolerate. On the eighth day, he was extubated and put on NIV fearing for VAP, he sustained for 24 hours in NIV with great difficulty with diminishing pO2 levels, and the respiratory element in monitor rose to 40. During this 24 hours, he was extremely drowsy, and he did not respond to us. He was restless and breathed with so much of difficulty, but then neurologist concluded that he is psychologically dull. After this tracheostomy was done and he was intubated again. Now it is the third day he is on the stoma. But yet he is in full artificial support now and not breathing naturally. A CT scan was taken yesterday, and I am attaching it. Again the doctors are suspecting swine flu, although the reports are negative. He is on high antibiotics, so the infection did not spread. But the lungs are full of scars, but he does not have a fever. We do not know where to go, please help. He has not been on natural nutrition for nearly three weeks, so he is very tired. His muscles need to be mobilized, and so they thought of keeping him on the chair, but he could not. And today again he is on ventilation. Today the pulmonologist told us that they are going to do an endoscopy to remove some mucus. What is his condition? I am attaching all the reports that are available to me. Can I know if the CT reports taken two weeks back and now show any improvement? Will the endoscopy procedure help? Is there any other better treatment for the same? Will this infection of viral pneumonia decrease? The doctors tell us that he is psychologically dull and so he hesitates to fight with breathing. What other things need to be done to make his atmosphere good?
Hi. I have seen all the reports (attachment removed to protect patient identity) For more information consult a pulmonologist online -->