Patient survives COVID-19 after 10 days on life support

A patient confined at the Lung Center of the Philippines has defeated COVID-19 after spending ten days on life support.

According to Raffy Tima's report on "24 Oras" on Wednesday, the 38-year-old patient suffered from a severe case of COVID-19.

"The lungs were flooded and oxygenation is pretty bad despite measures on mechanical ventilation," Dr. Dennis Teo, a pulmonary intensivist, said.

Teo said the patient was not responsive with medication and his condition was beyond a mechanical ventilator's capacity.

With this, doctors at the LCP offered one more medical intervention which is the extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) machine.

"The development progressed specifically to treat patients with lung failure when they go through acute respiratory distress syndrome. During this pandemic, it just so happens that COVID-19 leaves to ARDS," LCP ECMO head Dr. Newell Nacpil said.

The patient was the fourth person to use the ECMO machine in the hospital. He was also the only patient who was able to survive. The three others passed away because their condition was already critical.

Health workers in the LCP said the patient's recovery served as an inspiration.

"Inspiring na nakaka-extend ka ng life. Pagod kami, oo, pero with every life extended, it's worth the pagod," Dr. Stephanie Balaoing, a thoracic anesthesiologist, said. —Ma. Angelica Garcia/NB, GMA News