EGH Patient Thomas Fritschi Gets a Second Chance at Life
(L-R) Susan Rischling, R.N., BSN, CCRN; Kim Henke, R.N., MPA, MSN, CCRN; Catherine Barner, R.N.; Elvie Frey, R.N.; Thomas Fritschi, patient; Susanne Lehner; sister of patient and Ben Friesen, R.N.
When Thomas Fritschi went to see a doctor in February, he thought he had the flu. Less than 72 hours later, Thomas, age 46, was lying in Elkhart General Hospital’s Critical Care Center – near death.
It turned out Thomas was suffering from a complication associated with severe infections, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) – a potentially life-threatening illness marked by difficulty breathing and low blood oxygen levels unresponsive to normal treatment.
As a fluid filled his lungs, it was impossible for him to breathe on his own, and he required the maximum amount of oxygen through a ventilator.
“You are literally drowning in fluid,” says Kyle Berry, BSN, R.N., CCRN, Critical Care Center.
Fortunately for Thomas, the Critical Care team had, only one month earlier, received training on the RotoProne™ Therapy System used for pronation therapy. Pronation therapy involves a special bed used to rotate intubated, mechanically ventilated patients from their back to their stomach to improve oxygenation and ventilation.
By rotating the bed to have Thomas lay on his stomach, a larger surface area on the back of the lungs is unencumbered, enabling more oxygenation and the built-up fluid disperses rather than collecting in one spot. In conjunction with the bed rotations, the medical team, led by Namita Gupta, M.D., performed several bronchoscopy procedures to remove secretions/mucus from his lungs while Thomas was in the prone position.
Amazingly, within 12 hours of the pronation therapy, Thomas’ oxygenation and ventilation improved significantly. After 37 hours on the bed, Thomas’ breathing had improved to the point that he could be transferred to a normal bed to continue his remarkable recovery.
“The staff did an absolutely great job coming together to help the patient,” says Leigh Poeppelman, R.N., MSN, CCRN, Director, Critical Care Center and IVT.
Thomas was at Elkhart General for six weeks, followed by two weeks of outpatient therapy. He is on his way to a full recovery – he has since quit smoking and is exercising regularly. Thomas appreciates he has a second chance at life due to the technology, training and teamwork of the Critical Care Center. This special technique is available at both Elkhart General and Memorial Hospital.
