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MMed. Dr Nguyen Trung Huy from the Department of Nutrition, Hue Central Hospital, shares insights on the appropriate nutritional regimen for severe COVID-19 patients
Reporter: Greetings, MMed. Dr Nguyen Trung Huy! As the sole nutritionist of the Hue Central Hospital medical team deployed to support Bac Giang this time, could you share more details about your work?
Nutritionists primarily look after the dietary and nutritional regimen for all patients in the hospital, disease-specific nutritional regimens, and particularly food safety and hygiene. Alongside this, we consult patients on therapeutic diets and specific food-related issues while continuing to emphasize food safety and hygiene.
Reporter: Could the doctor elaborate on the role of adequate and timely nutritional intervention specifically for COVID-19 patients, especially severe cases?
For COVID-19 patients, numerous sets of solutions are implemented to aid patient treatment, among which nutrition is a crucial measure helping patients recover and improve their physical condition. Patient 91 is a typical example combining multiple measures from internal medicine, intensive care, and multidisciplinary coordination, in which nutrition accompanied this patient throughout their recovery process.
In reality, if severe patients are treated only with medication without incorporating nutritional enhancement, it easily leads to malnutrition, physical exhaustion, delayed recovery, and prolonged hospital stays. Therefore, hospitals must pay special attention to clinical nutrition to accelerate patient recovery.
Due to the pulmonary-related characteristics of these patients, their regimen differs from other conditions. We always carefully calculate kcal/kg of the patient's body weight to determine the required energy. From there, we provide energy-dense foods, particularly rich in protein, minerals, and vitamins, etc.
Reporter: How can the practice of nutritional care (specifically feeding methods) for severe COVID-19 cases be visualized, doctor?
Severe COVID-19 patients who require mechanical ventilation or blood purification are fed via a gastric tube (sonde). We primarily prepare customized soups tailored to each patient's specific regimen to ensure energy supply and nutritional requirements.
Nutritionists do not need to feed patients directly; instead, we provide remote guidance, while the inner circle of nursing staff is responsible for assisting patients in receiving adequate nutrition. Nurses must also ensure the food transport protocol within COVID-19 treatment facilities, especially in areas housing severe cases.
Reporter: Severe cases have various grades, making the patient screening process to establish an appropriate nutritional regimen critically important. Therefore, do nutritionists face any obstacles by working from the outer circle?
Patient screening is primarily monitored and evaluated by the treating physician. The nutritionist relies on those evaluations, combined with direct observation via the camera system and communication via walkie-talkies, to draw conclusions about the patient, thereby determining their nutritional status and calculating their energy requirements. Generally, we encounter no disadvantages.
Reporter: The medical team from Hue Central Hospital has been assigned to treat severe cases at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) Center in Bac Giang Psychiatric Hospital. This facility has only been operational for 4 days, so it must still face certain issues and difficulties?
Actually, we face no difficulties in coordinating with other supporting units assisting here, such as Friendship Hospital, Da Nang Hospital, etc. Currently, the facility has basically established a routine and stabilized.
However, the challenge for the nutrition department is human resources. In reality, the Department of Nutrition at Bac Giang Psychiatric Hospital is practically non-existent. We—doctors from Hue Central Hospital—have come here and are virtually transferring all knowledge, protocols for cooking soup and porridge, and food transportation procedures to the local team so that they can be proactive and ready to take over patient care when all supporting teams withdraw.
Since this deployment from the Department of Nutrition of Hue Central Hospital consists solely of myself, I am somewhat busier. I have to perform many tasks myself, practicing while instructing and coordinating food transport to ensure proper procedures.
Reporter: Up to now, how many severe cases are being monitored and cared for at the ICU Center of the Psychiatric Hospital facility, doctor?
As of the evening of 7 June, the 101-bed intensive care center has admitted 18 patients, including 2 special patients on mechanical ventilation. We have formulated appropriate soup nutritional regimens. The remaining 16 cases are being fed nutritionally adequate porridge.
Currently, not much can be evaluated yet, but it can be said that the doctors and nurses of Hue Central Hospital are providing their utmost support to Bac Giang.
Reporter: It is known that among this Hue team, many have participated in epidemic prevention across multiple waves, some staying away for months without returning home?
I am also among them. My first deployment was to Hoa Vang Field Hospital (Da Nang) for nearly 1 month. The second time was alongside many colleagues, and I also volunteered to come to Bac Giang this time. For me, this feels like a normal business trip, without any fear or anxiety because I am a doctor, accustomed to interacting with patients and dealing with both severe and mild medical conditions.
We do not yet know how long this "battle" will last—perhaps 1 or 2 months—but one thing is certain: we will not return until Bac Giang is completely free of the epidemic. Until the epidemic is over, we will not return home!
Thank you, Dr Nguyen Trung Huy, for sharing!
Source: https://moh.gov.vn/hoat-dong-cua-dia-phuong/-/asset_publisher/gHbla8vOQDuS/content/benh-nhan-covid-19-nang-can-co-che-o-dinh-duong-hop-ly-e-tranh-suy-kiet-co-the