Swine flu patient flown to Sweden

A PATIENT critically ill with swine flu was flown abroad for a specialised treatment only recently available here.

The patient was taken by air ambulance to the Karolinska Institute in Sweden for treatment using ECMO – extra corporeal membrane oxygenation – a technique most commonly used for newborns in pulmonary distress.

A spokeswoman for the Health Service Executive (HSE) said she was not at liberty to reveal whether the treatment was successful. It is often a treatment of last resort, used sometimes for adults, who even with the use of a respirator, need to be oxygenated until capable of doing the job themselves.

One of ECMO’s more recent uses is in the treatment of patients with the H1N1 virus. The development of an ECMO unit at the Mater Hospital in Dublin was “fast-tracked” after the pandemic began in April, the HSE spokeswoman said, “but is still in its early stages,” she added.

So far, the Mater unit has been used to treat just one swine flu patient. The HSE spokeswoman said she could not comment on the outcome. She said it was a highly specialised treatment, “used in a very specific set of circumstances, and not a treatment suitable for everybody”. The spokeswoman said the decision to fly a patient to Sweden was a clinical one, facilitated by a “long-standing arrangement” with the Karolinska Institute.

So far 10 people in the Republic of Ireland have died following swine flu infection, all of whom had underlying medical conditions; more than 100 remain hospitalised and 23 are in intensive care units. The rate of infection has soared in recent weeks from 154 per 100,000 population to 210 per 100,000.

Vaccination against swine flu is due to begin today.

At-risk patients will be offered the vaccine first, including pregnant women and people aged between six months and 65 years who have serious conditions such as long-term lung, heart, kidney and liver disease.

Dr Pat Doorley, National Director of Population at the HSE, said about three-quarters of the country’s GPs – 2,300 – have so far signed up to the campaign. Where GPs are not participating, those in at-risk groups can get the vaccine free of charge at one of the 45 HSE vaccination clinics nationwide. Those in the at-risk groups will be accommodated on a walk-in basis although the HSE is advising pre-booking where possible.

People can book an appointment from today at one of the HSE’s clinics on www.swineflu.ie Details of vaccine clinic locations are now available from GPs, or from www.hse.ie, or by ringing 1800 94 11 00.