Name: Coronavirus victim, 35, speaks for the first time after spending record breaking 58 DAYS on a ventilator
Brand: thesun.co.uk
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Coronavirus victim, 35, speaks for the first time after spending record breaking 58 DAYS on a ventilator

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SearchA WOMAN who spent 58 days on a ventilator is speaking for the first time since she was admitted to intensive care, it has been reported.The female patient, 35, came close to death as she endured the longest known period in an intensive care unit of any Briton infected with Covid-19.Doctors at Southampton General Hospital say the unidentified patient is still being supported by a ventilator, but now she isn't entirely reliant on one.Dr Sanjay Gupta, lead consultant for critical care at the hospital, told : "Suddenly she can communicate, whereas before she was so weak she could barely lift a finger to write anything."The Southampton patient still faces a long road to recovery.Dr Gupta said: "She has virtually no muscle strength left — barely enough to breathe. If you’re on a ventilator or in intensive care, your skeletal muscles decondition."Patients who go into intensive care are intubated, which is when a breathing tube is inserted through their mouth.A ventilator is then attached to the tube so it can push air into their lungs.If a patient spends about three weeks on a ventilator then doctors commonly perform a tracheostomy - where they replace the tube through a surgical opening in their windpipe.The Southampton patient underwent a tracheostomy several weeks ago.Dr Gupta added: "A tube through the front of your neck is easier to tolerate."It means that you can basically wake the patient up, switch off all sedation and start to mobilise them more."He said the idea is to "wean" patients off a ventilator over time.The patient's recovery is in contrast to the findings of recent studies in the US, UK and China - where several calculated that the mortality rate of patients places on ventilators could be as high as 90 per cent.However, other researchers have argued those studies only counted patients who died or were released from hospital - and not patients who continued to fight for their lives in ICUs.Professor Colin Cooke, from Michigan University’s pulmonary and critical care division, said it is "disheartening" that some people say getting put on a ventilator is "a death sentence".There are at least 12 patients with Covid-19 who are still receiving care 56 days after being admitted in hospital in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, according to data published by the Intensive Care National Audit and Research Centre (Icnarc).Coronavirus fatalities in the UK have risen to 34,466 and a total of 240,161 people have now tested positive for Covid-19 across Britain.However, new analysis published yesterday, suggests the overall death toll from the virus is far higher - and has already passed 41,500.The alternative toll, tallied up by the Office for National Statistics, refers to all deaths where Covid-19 was mentioned on death certificates this year until the beginning of May, including suspected cases.Don't miss the latest news and figures - and essential advice for you and your family.To receive The Sun's Coronavirus newsletter in your inbox every tea time, .To follow us on Facebook, simply .Get Britain's best-selling newspaper delivered to your smartphone or tablet each day - .TopicsYOU MIGHT LIKERECOMMENDED FOR YOUMORE FOR YOU

SearchA WOMAN who spent 58 days on a ventilator is speaking for the first time since she was admitted to intensive care, it has been reported.The female patient, 35, came close to death as she endured the longest known period in an intensive care unit of any Briton infected with Covid-19.Doctors at Southampton General Hospital say the unidentified patient is still being supported by a ventilator, but now she isn't entirely reliant on one.Dr Sanjay Gupta, lead consultant for critical care at the hospital, told : "Suddenly she can communicate, whereas before she was so weak she could barely...

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Coronavirus victim, 35, speaks for the first time after spending record breaking 58 DAYS on a ventilator

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