MARGAO
With oxygen in short supply across the country and the situation yet to stabilise even in Goa, don’t be surprised to come across Covid patients at the South Goa district hospital in prone position “ with the sole objective of increasing the patient’s oxygen levels.
In fact, it’s now three days since the district hospital went in for the prone lying for the patients, more so in the wake of the oxygen supply crisis.
And, if one goes by the feedback compiled by the hospital, the response of the patients has been termed as encouraging, with patients undergoing the prone lying sessions twice a day.
The public address system has come in handy for the hospital doctors and staff to impart the training sessions over the microphones. The staff and ward nurses, which have been imparted training on the prone lying concept, monitor the patients during the sessions.
Dr Rita Vaz, who has been entrusted with the work of implementing prone lying concept in the wake of
the disruptions in oxygen supply, told The Goan that the patients were very much receptive to the idea when it was first conveyed to them. “I can say that around 60 per cent of the patients responded positively to the prone lying. We are conducting two sessions -- morning and afternoon “ wherein the patients, who are eligible undergo prone lying sessions”, she said.
Dr Rita said that patients with high heart rate and low blood pressure are not included in the prone breathing.
South Goa district hospital nodal officer, Dr Rajesh Patil said that it has been proved in countries such as the USA that lying on belly and practicing deep breathing improves oxygenation in the lungs if it is practiced as per the prescribed format. “We have introduce prone lying in the hospital after the oxygen crisis has hit the state along with the country. The prone lying will go a long way to tide over the oxygen crisis situation”, Dr Patil said, adding that those in self isolation should also practice prone lying at homes to increase their oxygen level.
He added: “Following the oxygen supply crisis, we have gone for measures to avoid oxygen wastages in the district hospital. There were instances wherein patients used to go the wash room or busy on their cell phones without turning off the oxygen supply. We are trying to sensitize the patients to avoid wastages”.
Hospicio hospital, Margao has come out with a leaflet on Covid Appropriate Awake Prone Breathing, pointing out how lying on belly and practicing deep breathing improves oxygenation in lungs. “It can increase SP02 levels significantly. Practice prone lying deep breathing for 20-30 minutes, 3-4 times a day”, the leaflet states.
Saying that mild cases on home isolation can practice prone lying if SP02 fluctuates between 92-95 per cent, the leaflet cautioned that people with high heart rate and low blood pressure should not practice the awake prone breathing.
