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Prolonged treatment of COVID-19 pneumonia with high-flow nasal oxygen: A story of oxygen and resilience

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G G Audley, P Frankenfeld, S Dlamini, P Raubenheimer, J Hoare, L Cairncross, R van den Berg, M V Gule, G Calligaro

Abstract


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.


Authors' affiliations

G G Audley, Department of General Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town and Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa

P Frankenfeld, Department of General Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town and Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa; Division of Geriatric Medicine, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town and Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa

S Dlamini, Department of General Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town and Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa; Division of Infectious Diseases and HIV Medicine, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town and Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa

P Raubenheimer, Department of General Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town and Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa

J Hoare, Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town and Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa

L Cairncross, Division of Endocrine Surgery, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town and Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa

R van den Berg, Department of General Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town and Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa

M V Gule, Department of General Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town and Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa; Department of Neurology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town and Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa

G Calligaro, Department of General Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town and Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa; Division of Pulmonology, Department of Medicine and UCT Lung Institute, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, South Africa

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Keywords

COVID-19; High-flow nasal oxygen; Prolonged treatment

Cite this article

South African Medical Journal 2020;110(12):1168-1171. DOI:10.7196/SAMJ.2020.v110i12.15325

Article History

Date submitted: 2020-10-08
Date published: 2020-10-08

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