65year old man ICU 5 weeks on CPAP but stuck on oxygen level and days left..

[Paulosull]

My dad whose 65 has been in icu 5 and half weeks

CPAP ventillation at 35%oxygen (some mechanical at night) but doctors noting hes stuck and cant make more progress and need to turn off support in few days

They say likely scarring of lungs but trying some steriods as he has high white blood cells and there may be something else there

He does physio and wakes up and can smile etc and make small signals hand and tongue

Anyone known of anything that worked for others in similar situation

[Sepsur]

Why was your Dad in ICU

[Paulosull in reply to Sepsur]

Covid

[Sepsur]

This article explains all the possible reasons why someone may fail to wean, in my case they carried on trying until they succeeded. I was moved ‘down’ onto different systems of assisted breathing, would tolerate it for a while, then need full support again / it took numerous attempts - I understand that this is pretty standard.

My respiratory muscles had become so weak, from waste- I still do exercise each week to rebuild the diaphragm muscles / of course in a coma- ventilated exacerbates the respiratory deconditioning

cancertherapyadvisor.com/ho...

[Jackiefnts]

Don’t give up on your father, give it time. If your dads organs start to shut down or his brain activity is failing then that’s when y’all make a decision. If he is smiling and moving his hands or making signals then he’s still there. Please give him time to fight.

[FamilyHistorian]

I agree with Sepsur and Jackiefnts I’m 72 coming on 73 and was sedated and ventilated for nearly 2 months. Not with covid and I do have scaring now. ICU were fighting on my behalf.

[Paulosull]

thanks all they going to try another steriod on him as hes high white blood cells but its long shot.....its very frustrating as hes awake having taken while to wean sedation and other organs fine although he is weak he is sitting in chair and on some bike to try build up strength....

He made what called baby steps weaning till now but say hes not made enough progress thus want us to mive to pallative mode monday if no change heartbreaking and frustrating as docs say hes in no mans land...not in worst group of patients but not improved enough likely cause of scaring....just praying it might be something else and these different steriods get him moving

[Sepsur in reply to Paulosull]

Fingers crossed for you all

[Paulosull in reply to Sepsur]

thanks sepsur

[Ren2985]

I’m wishing your dad the best outcome. I’mNot sure home the process goes as I’m sure your doctors know more. But can they offered him a tracheotomy? Is that an option?

[Paulosull in reply to Ren2985]

thanks yes he has a treachy had one eraly days..it took docs few weeks before dad was able to wake up as he was heavily sedated

[Annabelsri]

I know what you are going through, although my dad doesn’t have covid. My dad too is on icu and on week 5, almost 6. Have they done a ct scan? Sounds like to me it would be more worth while moving him onto a rehabilitation and helping to get his strength up, my dad did the same before his incident, same movements as your dad and sitting up. They now say the next step after icu would be moving him to a cardiology ward and then rehabilitation. Some people have a tracheostomy long term and life, they can’t give up yet.I’m thinking of you x

[Paulosull in reply to Annabelsri]

Hi Annabelsri, ya they have been doing x rays and ct scans over last few days. They said ct scan was consistent with fibrosis..but they have done more x rays since .

They also did eco on his heart which is fine so if lot of fobrosis not in heart.

Ya he has treachy and i now ubderstand issue he had was level of support from cpap he was up 20 pressure support which they have actually reduced down yesterday to 18 so some hope there...i think they need to get him.to circa 10 whilst and having his lung compliance normal if he was to get off

Still expect them to say this is futile and we should be pulling him off but enough nuggets of hope i think to keep going..his oxygen levels and peep are still low so its the pressure support is key i think

[Paulosull in reply to Paulosull]

they also found something in his line so not sure how that would affect lung compliance

[Paulosull]

Hi All

By way of an update here as we visited my dad fay before going in to discuss palative care we notice he looked better and appeared to come down on support...then day we were supposed to go in consultant rang and said he made a bounce and has backed it up now last few says so fingers crossed he keeps going

He was on high degree of pressure support from ventilator and theyve been able to reduce down....