Vent support

[Avaco]

Hi every one

My Mom has completed 63 days in ICU on ventilator this week has Trach. They trial for Trach mask which she tolerated few hours then they put her back in pressure control. I received all from dr he is saying COVID patient 63 days he is worried about patient can be vent dependence. His this statement turn me off please share your experience how many days/ weeks you or your loved one stays on vent? My Mom parameters vice good stable not on any inotronic. Open eyes still in delirium phase.

Please share your experience so it will give me encouragement.

Thanks in advance

I’m looking for answers desperately so it will relieve me

[Rgsable]

Hello Avaco

My husband is on his 9 weeks in the ICU and the consultant told me that it is better to wean him off the ventilator gradually.

[Avaco]

Very assuring thanks for the reply I’m not the only one in this boat

And what’s the protocol are they using Trach mask?

[Rgsable in reply to Avaco]

No only the trach collar With covid 19 they said that they are seeing more of covid survivors spending months in icu and the ventilator.

[Tangmft]

My dad is icu for 7+weeks now, on trach collar now for 2 weeks, doing very well. Doctor wants to wean very slowly. Same for weaning off sedative.

[ED48]

My husband was 4 weeks on the ventilator then 6 weeks with a trache, gradually weaned with a trache mask and for the last week without any support. Slow but steady progress!

[JOSH43]

Hi Avaco

My wife is one of the 12 longest in The UK to be ventilated. 74 days in ITU and now on her 86th day in hospital. She had a Tracheostomy at end of April which was removed about 9 days ago. She is still on oxygen however they are hoping to discharge her next Wed (which will be her 91st day in hospital).

This whole thing takes a LONG time my friend so stay strong.

I know how you are feeling and there are ups and downs along they way but people can and do survive.

Best wishes

[Lf91 in reply to JOSH43]

My father in law is on day 73 of ventilation, day 75 on hospital. He's slowly coming out of delerium phase. Doctors are happy with his progress and have been taking him off the vent for a few hours here and there. They're hoping to try him off all day in the next few days. From my experience it's hard to do much with the patient while they are delerius, my fil was trying to get out of bed and pull all his tubes etc out. It's a very long process but she's awake, that is a big thing! It took my father in law a long time to wake from sedation and we was so scared! X

[HopefulA in reply to JOSH43]

Josh!

So pleased to hear that Donna will be discharged next week, really happy for you!

Keep us posted on her progress x

[Sepsur in reply to JOSH43]

Hope your wife has good quality recovery. It’s worth noting that the Russian pair poisoned with novochok - were only in ICU for 6wks!!!! Amateurs in comparison 😀😀😀

[RockRunner]

My husband was on ventilator for 61 days but over 5 weeks of that was with a tracheotomy. He has been in ICU 76 days now and the longest CoVid in his hospital. They weren’t able to try a trachy mask until about 3 weeks in and then it was incredibly slowly. So they might try him for an hour one day, then the next he was back on ventilator support, then the next day they did short bursts so say a few mins each hour. It’s very slow progress as the lungs are damaged and they have to take it gently as they heal. I was told vent dependence is highly unlikely in this situation, the lungs just need time to recover. There is no way after having a tracheotomy they will suddenly be able to tolerate a tracheotomy mask full time, I’m amazed she did for 3 hours first time! They need a plan of gradual increase, I know tracheotomy is not something they are used to doing for ventilator weaning on that hospital so they need some advice on weaning plans with it. It’s slow, maybe increasing the hour a day to two hours a day etc interspersed with some days of high intensity training so a few mins every hour. But it can take weeks and happens quicker if they are fully awake to be able to do the breathing themselves. Your Mom may be off sedation but is she on any opiates? It took 2 weeks for my husband to wake up fully but only really made a difference when they took him off the opiates. Also have they scanned her lungs? What stopped my husband progressing with the trachy mask was fluid on the lungs, they drained over a litre, he was then off the vent within the week. He is still on oxygen, for a while it was the CPAP high flow mask but it’s now standard nasal oxygen. Damaged lungs can recover but it’s take a while so it’s hard but patience is what is needed, and a gentle progressive weaning plan. Keeping everything crossed for you. It sounds as if your Mom has got to this stage because you have been fighting hard for them to follow success plans elsewhere, keep going, you can both do this xx

[Sepsur]

We are starting a zoom exercise session specifically to help Covid patients once they are discharged. We have one running at present which doesn’t address the specific rehab requirements of Covid survivors if you want more info - please contact us through our website

icustepschester.org/exercis...

[Avaco]

Thanks for your reply and response that’s make me hopeful

[Avaco]

My mom is on Seroquel medication no other sedation but still in delirium phase she is restless over night

[Avaco]

Thanks rockrunner for your detailed encouraging words it relaxed me

God bless you