The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) has made provisions to have a twenty-three-year-old man medevaced to the city today where he is expected to undergo treatment for possible deep vein thrombosis. Plans to air-dash the patient to Georgetown yesterday fell through when the pilot of a GDF aircraft declined to transport the man for fear that he may be positive for COVID-19.
When Stabroek News spoke with the Regional Health Officer (RHO) for Region One, Dr Steven Cheefoon, he said that it was related to him by the man’s doctor that the patient may have deep vein thrombosis (DVT) with a septic embolism. Cheefoon explained that a DVT is a blood clot that forms in a vein deep in the body which if dislodged can cause serious problems in the lungs, a condition referred to as a pulmonary embolism. The patient whose name was not disclosed, is believed to be suffering from a deep vein clot in his lower leg.
A septic embolism is a type of embolism that is infected with bacteria which leads to the forming of pus. If this breaks loose from its original location, it can be fatal for a person.
Dr Cheefoon relayed that the patient was said to be complaining of severe pains as well as shortness of breath. He also had a fever. The RHO explained that someone suffering from a DVT will experience severe pain as well as shortness of breath while septic embolism causes fever. The unidentified man was said to have a swollen left knee.
Deep vein thrombosis, he further explained, is often found in persons who are in one position for too long whether standing too long or even driving. The patient is said to be a driver.
The patient was admitted to the Mabaruma Hospital on Monday night for observation as doctors had already thought that he was a possible DVT patient but taking his shortness of breath into consideration, decided to have him swabbed for a PCR COVID test to be done. Dr Cheefoon said that while the man is suspected to be a DVT patient more than a COVID patient, they decided to have him swabbed for the virus at the hospital instead of waiting until he arrived the Georgetown Public Hospital so as to speed the process up.
The patient has since been put on prophylactic (anticoagulant or blood thinners) to prevent any further clotting. A CT pulmonary angiogram is required to be done on the patient which will be performed once he arrives in the city, to determine if there is a clot and/or where it is located. Once it is confirmed that the man does have a DVT, then doctors can move forward with treatments which includes him being put on another anticoagulant called Heparin.
Dr Cheefoon said also that the GDF aircraft has transported COVID-19 patients from Region One to Georgetown in the past although their positive statuses were not known until after they arrived in the city. However, the GDF, he emphasised, never refused to transport the patient but instead wanted to be attired in their hazmat suits along with the other necessary personal protection equipment which is why another flight was arranged to have the man medevaced today. The patient is said to also be positive for dengue fever.
