S04E07 COVID-19 Management In The ICU With Mervyn Singer

Bolus: education delivered stat

In our final (planned) COVID-19 episode, we are joined by intensivist Mervyn Singer, to discuss the treatments that were used in ICU for patients with severe COVID-19. In the first third we discuss the preparations that took place to get a London critical care unit ready for a pandemic. Then in the middle section, we delve into what treatments proved the most valuable, from invasive and non-invasive ventilation, proning, sedation and paralysis strategies, anti-coagulation and steroids. Finally, out attention shifts to what comes next, and the preparations being made for another wave or for a future pandemic. Do the UK's ICU bed numbers need to increase or should the emphasis be on High Dependency beds? The importance of training more staff in ICU level skills, that may be used outside of the ICU and lastly the UK's preparedness and the issues that arise with stockpiling.