Ognjen Gajić, a physician specializing in intensive care and lung diseases at the prestigious Mayo Clinic in the United States of America, spoke to N1 about new knowledge about COVID-19.
As Dr. Gajić told us, he hopes that the so-called collapse of the health care system should not occur in the USA, where he is, as well as in Bosnia and Herzegovina. "This is a common enemy, and with respect for measures and good organization and agreement, I think it can and should be avoided," he pointed out. He also spoke to N1 about tips for treating the new Coronavirus at home. "This is viral pneumonia, a viral disease, for which there is no specific treatment at home treatment. The most important thing is to bring down the temperature, paracetamol and the like, to drink enough fluids, and to watch out for the development of more dangerous signs, i.e., if it were to develop difficulty breathing, loss of consciousness, or any more severe symptoms, it is imperative to contact a doctor because the person may need oxygen," he said. He also emphasized that a lot has been learned about COVID-19 and that the results are better everywhere in the world, as well as that mortality has decreased. "We've learned what not to do—that's more important than anything else. Antiviral drugs initially have little effect on seriously ill patients in the hospital, or intensive care, to reduce the duration of the disease. They don't reduce mortality, but they have a certain effect. Furthermore, steroids, such as dexamethasone, which is given in all hospitals in Bosnia and Herzegovina and is important for those patients who need oxygen in a small dose without side effects, are known to reduce mortality. High concentrations of oxygen can sustain more severe patients," he said. "Two out of three patients cannot be treated with non-invasive ventilation alone but have to be intubated. With excellent care, which takes seven to ten days, the results are not as catastrophic as at the beginning. More than half recover, even among the most difficult patients. In an ordinary ward, this care can be one nurse per four patients; oxygen, steroids, physical therapy can be given, etc. In the intensive care unit, the treatment is more complex for those who are on non-invasive ventilation or who need to be intubated; the standard is to have one nurse per patient. The nurses and the whole team must be coordinated," he pointed out. He also said that it can be done in BiH as well. "Colleague Kovačević has a well-equipped team in Banja Luka, and I know that I work closely with them, as well as my colleagues in Mostar. Colleague Kovačević is in contact with colleagues at the General Hospital to help develop the intensive care unit now that they have started accepting patients," said Dr. Gajić for N1. SEE VIDEO (http://ba.n1info.com/)
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