Episode #44: Walking Home From the ICU After COVID19

Dr. Kenneth Hurwitz was admitted to the ICU after being intubated for respiratory failure due to COVID19.

His first 6 days on the ventilator were spent being awake and walking in his room. He spent most of his time in the chair, writing on a board and texting the staff and his wife.

When his status changed and lungs became worse, he was lightly sedated while proned for 2 days and then deeply sedated for another 6 days while unable to tolerate being on his back.

After 8 days of immobility including 2 days of paralysis and 4 additional days of sedation/delirium, Kenneth returned to a world of weakness and hallucinations. As soon as he could be on his back, he was sitting up and working on being on his feet again.

Had Kenneth received “standard care" of deep sedation and immediate immobility the moment he was intubated, he would have spent at least 3 weeks in delirium and muscular atrophy. This would likely have caused him to be unable to wean from the ventilator and would have led to days-weeks longer on the ventilator and guaranteed an admission to nursing facility for extensive rehabilitation.

Yet, 4 days after being supine again, he was able to be off the ventilator. 10 days after getting off the ventilator, he walked himself into his car, shut his door, and didn’t look back.

He continued to recover at home but was able to care for himself and be with his wife.

Almost 6 weeks after leaving the hospital, Kenneth is able to do 25 pushup and 30 situps. He achieved his goal for his 70th birthday and golfed 18 holes. :)

Kenneth’s outcomes and long-term quality of life were determined by a team dedicated to avoiding deep sedation and optimizing early ambulation/mobility.

In this episode he and his wife, Beverly, tell their story and what early ambulation has meant for their lives.