[ad_1]
A man from New Mexico who spent more than 100 days in hospital and on a ventilator after contracting the novel coronavirus has undergone a life-saving double lung transplant, according to the hospital where he was treated.
Arthur Sanchez, a father of two, underwent the transplant at St. Joseph’s Dignity Health Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix, Ariz., In August, becoming the third coronavirus patient to undergo the procedure, which is believed to be a “ last resort for patients who have developed irreversible lung damage from COVID-19, ” according to a press release from the hospital.
Arthur and Michaela Sanchez.
(Dignity Health AZ)
Although it is not known where and when exactly Sanchez, from Las Cruces, first contracted the virus, he was admitted to hospital on April 12 after experiencing a fever, chills and shortness of breath. . The 52-year-old had no underlying conditions other than sleep apnea and high blood pressure, according to the press release.
“I was doing pretty well at the start and came home after a few days of treatment,” Sanchez said in a statement. “I was ready to quarantine my wife, but the first day at home my nurse sent me back to the hospital and I was put on a ventilator.
CORONAVIRUS SURVIVOR LEAVES HOSPITAL AFTER SUCCESSFUL DOUBLE Lung transplant
“At one point, my sister was also being treated for COVID-19 in the hospital room next to mine,” he added, noting that in addition to his sister, his mother, his wife, his sister and brother-in-law had also contracted the virus. Her brother-in-law died as a result, according to the press release.
Sanchez’s condition did not improve even after being ventilated. Eventually, he was airlifted to the University of New Mexico (UNM) hospital in Albuquerque for treatment on an extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (EMO) machine, a “therapy of last resort for some patients.” COVID-19. It is a machine that essentially takes over from failing lungs. “
Sanchez remained in the UNM hospital for more than three months and needed the EMO machine for 93 days, officials said.
Sanchez’s scarred lungs.
(Dignity Health AZ)
Sanchez was eventually removed from the EMO machine but still needed a fan. By this time, however, the man’s lungs were so badly scarred from the infection that his “only chance of survival was a double lung transplant.”
The 52-year-old was then transferred to the St. Joseph Norton Thoracic Institute for a transplant; The lung transplant team were able to find a matched donor for Sanchez about two weeks after his arrival.
MODERNA CORONAVIRUS VACCINE TEST DETAILS OF THE VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE: NOTHING TO FEAR BUT MINOR SIDE EFFECTS
“Arthur’s surgery was incredibly complex,” said Dr. Samad Hashimi, one of Sanchez’s lung transplant surgeons at the Norton Thoracic Institute in St. Joseph and director of the ECMO program, in a statement. “Patients who have had COVID-19 are different from our other lung transplant patients in that they had longer hospitalizations before the transplant, many more medical procedures and very serious lung damage.
The operation was a success and after a 44-day stay in Saint-Joseph, Sanchez was reunited with his family, including his 30-year-old wife. In total, Sanchez was hospitalized for 147 days, according to the press release.
Doctors performing Sanchez’s double lung transplant. (Dignity Health AZ)
“In the past few months, I could have lost my husband three times,” said Michaela Sanchez, the man’s wife. “This is the love of my life, my high school sweetheart. We spent our 30th wedding anniversary at the UNM hospital. It’s been an absolute roller coaster, and I’m so thrilled now that we can be together again.
CLICK HERE FOR FULL CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE
“Arthur has persevered through multiple near-death experiences, including infections, bleeding complications and many other setbacks,” said Dr. Jon Marinaro, co-head of the UNM Center for Critical Care for Adults and director of the hospital’s ECMO program, in a statement. “His survival is a testament to his inner strength, family support system and the exceptional teams at Mountain View Hospital in Las Cruces, UNM Hospital in Albuquerque, Lifeguard Transport Team and St. Joseph’s. in Arizona.
“Before my family started getting sick, I thought it was just another flu virus causing a stir. And there you have it, it took a beating, ”Sanchez said as he urged others to take COVID-19 seriously.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
[ad_2]
Source link