COVID-19 – An Experience Within An Acute General Hospital

Title: COVID-19 – An Experience Within An Acute General Hospital
Author(s): H O'Brien A Fahey T Cahill A Flordeliza E O'Sullivan
Institution: Wexford General Hospital
Poster: Click to view poster
Category: COVID 19
Abstract: Until 2021, patients requiring non-invasive ventilation were managed in an ICU setting in Wexford General Hospital (WGH). During the third wave of COVID-19 infections in Ireland in early 2021, Wexford General Hospital saw an unprecedented volume of admissions with respiratory failure requiring ICU level care.

Between January and March 2021 there were 222 admissions to hospital secondary to COVID-19. 42 (18.9%) patients required advanced oxygenation and 18 (8.1%) required ICU care. This is in comparison to 93 admissions in the entirety of 2020, with 13 patients requiring ICU care and no NIV managed at ward level.

In the first quarter of 2021, 42 patients required advanced oxygen therapy in the form of high flow nasal oxygen (HFNO) or continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). Of these 8 patients, who were considered for full escalation in the event of deterioration, were managed solely on the ward with CPAP therapy, thus preventing 8 ICU admissions. An admission and oxygen weaning protocol was designed and implemented to streamline patient care.

In total during this time 6 patients were transferred to ICUs in other clinical sites as a result of bed capacity.