Doctor on key difference between respiratory viruses, and this "more than interesting" coronavirus

Photo: Tanjug/Dragan Kujundzic/Pixabay

Professor Doctor Branimir Nestorovic made a guest appearance this morning on TV Pink, where he talked about what makes coronavirus more than interesting, from a medical point of view.

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"It attacks the kidneys, intestines, the liver and the heart, which is not characteristic of other respiratory infections. Two days ago, it was reported that one third of the patients also have problems with the central nervous system, that is, they have some mild infections. It is unknown for now whether those who recover might have some long-term consequences."

As he says, there have been no reports from China so far that patients had suffered some permanent damage -  but those who received treatment on a ventilator, have.

"For them, the severity of the disease and the use of ventilators is a risk factor to ling damage. Yes, it is very possible that certain people will have some lung damage after being hooked to a ventilator. It is usually not significant, or to the extent that would endanger their functioning later in life, but it is possible," he said.

Nestorovic spoke a few days ago about what happens to the lungs when a patient is intubated and connected to a ventilator.

"When a patient's condition requires the need of a ventilator, their lungs have been damaged, but we cannot know to what extent. We push the air into those lungs, and this pressure can be very dangerous for the patient. Data from England is that 51 percent of patients who go on a ventilator die. In Serbia, this is 40 percent. When you apply that positive pressure onto damaged lungs, you tear them apart," Nestorovic explained.

(T.T./Telegraf.rs)