Someone I know on ventilator, what's the chances?

[StormsDontLastForever]

Being very brief here as I don't want to be outed. Someone I know is on a ventilator with covid, tried withdrawing the ventilator yesterday but their body couldn't cope. Now back on ventilator again. Worried sick. Has anyone in here has experience with it? Thanks

My friend’s 50 year old husband was. He was there for a week but has recovered really well. This was in the first wave. And Boris was too..

I think it’s impossible to compare anybody’s experience really , it depends on so many factors. I hope they get better though xx

Fingers crossed for your family member. 💐

Thank you all. Just trying to hope for the best.

"And Boris was too.."

He wasn't vented was he?

Good luck for your friend OP.

@Honeyroar

My friend’s 50 year old husband was. He was there for a week but has recovered really well. This was in the first wave. And Boris was too..

I don't think Boris was ventilated. In the first wave i read it was 50-50 survival for ventilated patients (friend's husband was one), but I think they were quicker to put them on ventilators back then. Knowledge of the disease and the best way to deal with it has improved considerably.

Depends on how old your friend is. The younger and fitter you are the higher your chances of survival. I too read it was around 50-50 around the first lock down. I'm hoping things have improved since then since we know so much more.

Being on a ventilator is very serious though. I know it is unthinkable, but you might have to prepare yourself for well ... you know ....

Survival is much better but as PPs say it depends on many factors.

Best wishes for a full recovery for the person you know.

Boris never was.
From one of the papers writing about his hospital stay following an interview he did

"Boris Johnson has spoken of his dramatic stay in intensive care as doctors faced a “50-50” decision on whether to put him on a ventilator and plans were drawn up on how to announce his death."

This study of patients treated in ICU for COVID-19 reports a survival rate of 80.4% in June 2020 compared to 58% in March 2020 when we had no idea how to treat COVID-19.

journals.lww.com/ccmjournal/Fulltext/2021/02000/Improving_Survival_of_Critical_Care_Patients_With.5.aspx

A friend of mine was ventilated early on in the first wave. Mid 50s, was on a ventilator for 3 weeks. Survived and is back at work.

A friend of mines brother was ventilated for 6 weeks. He survived and came home just before Christmas.

My brothers ex work colleague was on a ventilator for weeks after contracting Covid it seemed and now back at home. He had to retire though.

Statistically more likely to survive than not . I hope they get better soon xx

I don't know the stats I'm afraid, but I do know he has more chance of being ok than not. It depends on so many things but hopefully this is giving his body a chance to rest and fight off the virus and he'll be back home safely soon.

Sorry to hear this. I wish them well.
I have heard anecdotally from medic friends that those being ventilated this time around are generally much sicker by the time they're admitted into intensive care and ventilated than in the first wave when ventilators were used much earlier on and for patients who were less unwell. This being the case I would say this makes the chances of someone recovering lower. But it's so hard for even a medic to say without knowing individual circumstances. Being able to be weaned off a ventilator is not always possible, ventilators keep people alive but their bodies become dependent on them and they also order pose a substantial secondary infection risk. That's how it has been explained to me by people who work with them, anyway. The aim is to get the person off the ventilator ar the earliest opportunity. The longer they are on one the harder it is to wean off.
Overall ICU recovery rates will be higher as not all patients will be ventilated or will be on non-invasive ventilation.
I hope your friend pulls through.

We had two family friends on ventilator, one was on for 2 months and he didn't make it. His sister was on for a couple of weeks and she is alive, this was during first lockdown. She is still recovering from it and has knocked her strength.

Sorry to hear this OP,
Boris wasn't ventilated.
My DD is an ICU nurse, and ventilates patients. She is often in the Covid ICU.
Outcome for all ICU patients is generally 50/50.

Sorry for starting rumours that Boris was ventilated!

A lot depends in the age of the patient and how long they've been ventilated for. Younger the better, shorter the ventilation time to date the better. I hope your friend /family member makes a good recovery, many do.