BREAKING NEWS: British national critically ill with Covid gets treated in Kerala: Thanks Kerala govt and health sector (Video)

KOCHI April 1 2020: Kerala shows again on how its able to deal with the Covid disease and how it can provide the best treatment possible for those elderly too.

Brian Neil, 57 year old British national, who was admitted with severe COVID-19 pneumonia symptoms at the Ernakulam Medical College on 15th March 2020 after disembarking him from his onward flight to the UK at Nedumbassery international airport. He was admitted at the  Ernakulam Medical College along with his wife  Mrs Jane Lockwood who was later discharged as her repeated samples were tested negative for COVID-19.

According to a Press Release issued by Ernakulam Medical College, in the special COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit,  Brian’s  condition became critical with  progressive reduction in Oxygen level leading to respiratory failure, needing continuous oxygen administration and was  promptly started  on antiviral cocktails along with Hydroxy-chloroquine and Azithromycin.

Meanwhile he needed ventilatory support with non-vented mask interphase ventilation through ICU Ventilator with viral filter at the expiratory port.

After 3 days of starting antivirals his general condition  began to improve, though he continued to have unremitting fever.

The repeat X-ray had showed further worsening to involve the entire left lung and a new onset infiltrate in the right lower lung field. During this period his oxygenation was maintained with interphase non-vented mask ventilatory support and antivirals. By about 7th  day of starting antivirals  his fever subsided and X-ray also showed radiological improvement. With the antiviral treatment his 2 samples turned out to be negative for COVID- 19.

He underwent  a series of  investigations during his hospital stay which included CT, blood examinations to monitor Cytokine Storm Syndrome. He was provided daily psychological support by a psychiatry team.

Since the  last five days Brian is off oxygen, and is  maintaining normal saturation of 97 per cent at room air and his X-ray has shown near complete resolution.

He was treated by multidisciplinary team headed by Professor Dr Fathahudeen, Professor Dr Jacob K Jacob, Dr Ganesh Mohan, Dr Geetha Nair, Dr. Vidhukumar, Dr. Vibha Santhosh  and Dr Renimol, under the supervision of principal Dr Thomas Mathew.

The sample collection and maintenance team headed by Dr Lancy along with Dr Neethu, Dr Nikhilesh Menon  and Dr Manoj had played a pivotal role in this entire process.

The Community Medicine team  Dr Bindhu and Dr Alwin had played a very important role in contact tracing headed by  Professor Dr Manjula.

He was provided state of the art nursing care by the nursing team led by Nursing Superintendent Santy Augustine. The infection control activities were monitored by infection control team staff Nurses  Vidya, Nirmala and Ajitha and  health inspector  Ratheesh.

His dietary needs were handled by Dr. Deepa Augustine  and S/N Amrutha.

The hospital administration of GMC, Ernakulam  expresses our sincere gratitude to  Shri. K.K Shylaja teacher,  Honourable Minister Of Health and Family Welfare, Social Justice and Women and child development  for her whole hearted support and round the clock monitoring of patients condition, by providing assistance to the institutional treating team, said the press note.

The institution is indebted to Dr. Rajan .N. Khobragade, Principal Secretary Health and Family Welfare and the State Medical Board for allowing the use of antiviral medicines for Mr. Brian on compassionate grounds. We are also thankful to DME Dr Ramla Beevi for coordinating the  patient treatment at the state level, the press note added.

The hospital administration also thanked Shri V S Sunil Kumar ,Honourable  Minister of Agriculture, Minister in charge of  Ernakulam district COVID 19 Containment Activities, Sri Suhas.S  IAS, the District Collector and the district health team including DMO Dr.N K  Kuttappan  additional DMO’s , Dr. Sreedevi Pillai & Dr Vivek and  Dr. Mathews  Numpelil (DPM, NHM).

All the staff of this institution from doctors, Nursing Staff, lab and X-ray technicians pharmacists, security staff, attenders  work  with exemplary  commitment and willpower so that the patients admitted in this institution are provided standardised care to recover and recoup from this  ordeal they are inflected with.

Last but not the least, the  institution acknowledge the faith re-posited on this institution and its treating team by Mrs. Jane Lockwood, wife of Mr. Brian. Hers, is a story of great faith and courage.

The survival story of Mr. Brian is a tribute to the great team spirit and clinical ethos  practised in this institution during these hard times of fighting a global pandemic, ended the press note.