PATIENT & PROVIDER COVID-19 RESOURCES
Dr. Jeff Brown’s organs were on the brink of failure. The local vascular surgeon had tested positive for COVID-19, and after three days in the hospital his health was only getting worse. The oxygen level in his blood was low, a condition known as hypoxemia, and respiratory failure was a serious concern.
After the lungs go, oxygen can’t be delivered to the rest of the body. Tissues will die and other will organs follow, like one domino knocking over another.
But thanks to some quick thinking by his doctor and a yet-to-be-approved treatment that is showing potential to stave off the most detrimental effects of the coronavirus, Brown made a swift and dramatic turnaround.
“A gas made in your body that eases breathing and may have antiviral properties is being investigated as a treatment for people with COVID-19.
The gas is nitric oxide, and it has been used for years to treat conditions including severe respiratory failure, according to Dr. Shilpa Johri of Pulmonary Associates of Richmond. “
“When we get people on the nitric oxide treatment, we are able to wean down their oxygen requirement and that’s how we tell they are improving and the lungs are healing,” said Johri. “When they are back down to requiring very little oxygen, one to two liters, we just shut the nitric oxide off and they are able to come off the oxygen as well.”
Johri said all nine of her patients have recovered and have been discharged.
