Stage 1
- hard to breathe
- need a supplemental flow of 1 to 4 litres of oxygen per minute
- start on antivirals, steroids, anticoagulants or monoclonal antibodies
- if survive will get discharged
- harder and harder to breathe like drowning
- oxygen requirements increase significantly, from 4 litres to 15 litres to 40 litres per minute
- become too difficult relieve, or sitting up
- oxygen saturation rapidly declines when move
- transfer to the intensive care unit
- exhausted from hyperventilating
- put on noninvasive, “positive pressure” ventilation to push pressure into the lungs
- blood pressure drops critically, we will administer vasopressors to bring it up, but your heart may stop anyway. After several rounds of CPR, we’ll get your pulse and circulation back. But soon, your family will need to make a difficult decision
- intubate
- suggest to call loved ones as this might be the last time to speak audibly
- connect to a ventilator
- sedated and paralyzed
- oxygen levels and overall condition continue to deteriorate
- COVID-infested lungs need an ECMO machine to oxygenates blood
- air may leak into chest cavity, and tubes inserted to clear it
- kidneys fail to filter the byproducts from the drug
- administer vasopressors as blood pressure drops critically
- entire body swells from fluid retention, and dialysis to help with renal function
- heart may stop
- susceptible to infections as immune system depressed
- fluid accumulating in lung sacs
- possible blood clot
- several rounds of CPR, to get pulse and circulation back
- decides to withdraw care
- turn off the breathing machinery
- final video call with loved ones
