Dong Jiahong, a scholar from the Chinese Academy of Sciences and a renowned biliary surgery expert, arrived at Leishenshan Hospital in Wuhan on Tuesday with a group of experts to visit the medical staff there who are fighting the COVID-19 outbreak. He held a one-and-half-hour remote consultation for a severely-infected patient in the hospital’s intense care unit together with experts in Beijing and Shanghai via a 5G network. 

(Photo: People's Daily)

The patient in question was a 68-year-old male with many pre-existing diseases that was transferred to Leishenshan Hospital on February 10. On February 22, the patient suffered from a marked worsening condition featuring respiratory circulatory failure and multiple organ dysfunction. 

After timely treatment, the patient’s vital signs gradually stabilized, though he still needed a ventilator to help him breathe. After learning the patient’s medical history, Dong and experts in Beijing and Shanghai praised the medical care capacity of Leishenshan Hospital.

Dong and the experts in Beijing and Shanghai analyzed the patient’s condition based on the his medical history, biochemical examination results and other data, and put forward clear guidance, bringing the medical staff much more confidence in their treatment plan.

“Respiratory failure and multiple organ dysfunction are major clinical features of critical COVID-19 patients. It’s very important to conduct timely and effective treatment and make fine adjustments during the process,” said Professor Li Jianguo, chief expert of the Department of Critical Medicine in Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University. 

The patient examined by the experts was typical in terms of age and condition. The 5G joint consultation offered by Dong and senior experts from all over the country had not only helped improve the clinical ability of the front-line medical staff, but also enhanced their confidence, which will increase the success rate in treating critical patients.

(Compiled by Cao Mengqi)