Young man dies for want of ventilator support

The 28-year-old male patient  had developed Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome and required ventilator support. As the ventilator was not available at RGICD, it approached many prestigious, well-equipped, private hospitals. “They bluntly refused to admit the patient,” a RGICD source said. 

Finally, Suguna Hospital  agreed to admit the patient. But since the patient was already in a critical condition, he succumbed to ‘pre-existing medical conditions’ on Wednesday, the source said.

Medical Director of Suguna Hospital, Dr R Ravindra said, “The patient was in a very bad state when he arrived. His throat and nasal swabs were collected to check for H1N1 influenza but he died even before the results were out.”

As H1N1 influenza has spread to the community at large, more cases of severe respiratory problems are likely to be reported in the coming days, said a source in RGICD. “We have two or three ventilators in the main building and not in the H1N1 influenza ward. Hence, when a patient with respiratory failure comes, we have no choice but to refer him to some other hospital. We also urgently need an ICU in the H1N1 influenza ward,” said the source.