Share this Story: Canada's hospitals deploy artificial lungs, scramble for staff as COVID hits younger patientsCanada's hospitals deploy artificial lungs, scramble for staff as COVID hits younger patients The need for these artificial lungs reflects a change in Canada's epidemic, which has taken a turn for the worse Photo by ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT/AFP via Getty ImagesArticle content Younger Canadians are bearing the brunt of the nation’s latest COVID-19 surge, creating growing demand for artificial lungs and a struggle to maintain staffing in critical care units as hospitals make last-ditch efforts to save patients. Try refreshing your browser, or Canada's hospitals deploy artificial lungs, scramble for staff as COVID hits younger patients Back to video Last week, there were a record 19 ECMO patients at UHN, 17 of them with severe COVID-19. When the sickest COVID-19 patients’ lungs fill with fluid and mechanical ventilators can no longer do the job, artificial lungs can save lives. By Monday, doctors had weaned some off the machines and were down to 14 ECMO patients, 12 of them with COVID-19. With many seniors vaccinated and new, far more contagious coronavirus variants circulating widely, younger patients are increasingly arriving in intensive care.

Source: National Post April 06, 2021 18:00 UTC