Open AccessProlonged treatment of COVID-19 pneumonia with high-flow nasal oxygen: A story of oxygen and resilience
Author(s) -
Gordon Audley,
P Frankenfeld,
Sipho Dlamini,
Peter Raubenheimer,
Jacqueline Hoare,
Lydia Cairncross,
Roy van den Berg,
M V Gule,
Greg Calligaro
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
samj. south african medical journal/south african medical journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.527
H-Index - 57
eISSN - 2078-5135
pISSN - 0256-9574
DOI - 10.7196/samj.2020.v110i12.15325
Subject(s) - medicine , covid-19 , nasal cannula , pneumonia , psychosocial , oxygen delivery , oxygen therapy , pandemic , intensive care medicine , oxygen , anesthesia , surgery , virology , psychiatry , disease , chemistry , organic chemistry , cannula , outbreak , infectious disease (medical specialty)
The COVID-19 pandemic has placed significant strain on the oxygen delivery infrastructure of health facilities in resource-constrained health systems. In this case report, we describe a patient with severe COVID-19 pneumonia who was managed with high-flow nasal oxygen for 40 days, with an eventual successful outcome. We discuss the oxygen delivery infrastructure needed to offer this intervention, as well as the psychosocial impact on those undergoing treatment.