Pressure from doctors to for feeding tube or trac... - ICUsteps

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Pressure from doctors to for feeding tube or trachea

LCharles profile image
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My friend is still on a ventilator. The doctor is saying no more Covid, no more pneumonia. His parents are being told he has Covid brain. His eyes r open but brain won’t signal lungs to breathe? Doc says get a permanent feeding tube?

It’s only been 6 days since sedation drugs left.

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LCharles profile image
LCharles
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LeopardGecko profile image
LeopardGecko

I haven't heard of covid brain before but as others have said previously, it can take a while for patients to wake up from a coma and be fully responsive. It seems quite common for patients to have a feeding tube (usually nasal) in order to keep their nutrients up. My husband was on a ventilator for almost 3 months and was 'fed' intravenously for that time.

Once your friend is more alert, staff should be able to start weaning them off the ventilator and then they should be able to start introducing proper foods (unless there are other issues).

Copse77 profile image
Copse77

My brother had a feeding tube while he was critically ill. As LeopardGeckp says it is to ensure nutrition for the patient.

Copse77 profile image
Copse77 in reply to Copse77

ics.ac.uk/Society/Guideline... is information from the Intensive Care Society

Copse77 profile image
Copse77 in reply to Copse77

ics.ac.uk/Society/Policy_an...

Sepsur profile image
Sepsur

I’ve never heard of Covid brain- ( nor does anyone I know nor have so ever heard it used) does he have brain damage or is he still waking after sedation? Some people take quite a few days - I took 11.

He would have already had a feeding tube - so there would be little to alter long term.

It maybe worth asking what level on the Glasgow coma scale does your friend reach.

3-15 ( 15 is more positive)

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