Anesthesiologist’s learning from experience of participating in the treatment of critically ill patients with COVID-19 in isolation wards

Abstract

After the outbreak of 2019 novel coronavirus diseases (COVID-19), the number of severe cases in Wuhan increased dramatically, which was far beyond the load of ICU. As a result, the isolation ward became the place for the treatment of severe cases. Because the important role of anesthesiologists, more than 20 anesthesiologists from Union Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology have been sent to eight isolation wards of severe patients. They have participated in the treatment of more than 800 severe COVID-19 patients, including more than 300 critical cases and more than 120 cases were getting better recovery. Their work included endotracheal intubation, central venous catheterization, artery cannulation and blood gas analysis, and bedside cardiopulmonary ultrasound examination, and more importantly they have played an important role in respiratory management after endotracheal intubation, the treatment of cardiovascular events and precise fluid therapy. During these works, anesthesiologists improved their own professional skills through the cooperation with other specialists, including the standard writing skills of medical records and prescription, appropriate protection against infectious diseases, standard medication and oxygen therapy for respiratory diseases, and the capability of continuously management of critical cases. Key words: Anesthesiologists; Hospitals, isolation; Critical care; COVID-19