Doctor With COVID-19 Takes Off Oxygen Support To Save Patient 2 Beds Away From Him
Despite his weakened state, he got up to intubate the elderly man.
By May Vin Ang — 17 Aug 2020, 06:13 PM
A doctor in India who was admitted for COVID-19 in an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) did not spare himself a second thought before rescuing a critically-ill patient
According to Times of India, Dr Sanket Mehta, an anaesthetist, saved the life of 71-year-old Dinesh Purani who was admitted to the same ICU that he was in for emergency intubation and ventilator support.
The incident took place at BAPS Pramukh Swami Hospital in Surat, Gujarat, where 37-year-old Dr Sanket tested positive for COVID-19
The doctor was admitted to the ICU for oxygen support in the form of a high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) after he developed breathing difficulties and low oxygen levels.
On the night of 9 August, Dinesh was rushed to the same ward, critically-ill.
The hospital's chief executive officer (CEO) Dr Parshottam Koradia said they needed an anaesthetist to intubate the collapsed patient as he could suffer from brain damage if oxygen was not delivered within a matter of minutes.
However, the doctor on-call was taking time to respond.
"Since the doctors have to follow the COVID-19 protocol, our own anaesthetist would have taken 15 to 20 minutes to reach the ICU after wearing the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) kit," said Dr Parshottam.
Despite his weakened state, Dr Sanket, who was only two beds away from Purani, saw the urgent situation and took off his HFNC to intubate the patient instead.
"It could have cost him his life, but he saved the life of the patient," said Dr Hiral Shah, vice president of the Surat Anaesthetic Association
According to The Star, hospital CEO Parshottam said Dinesh is currently under stable condition in the ICU, while Dr Sanket also remains on HFNC but is still too weak to even speak.
As of writing, India has recorded over 2.6 million COVID-19 cases, making it the third worst-hit country in the world after the United States and Brazil, according to a global tally by Worldometer.
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