Senior doctors at the Institute of Anaesthesiology test positive in Chennai
Chennai: Sources have confirmed that two chiefs of the Institute of Anaesthesiology have tested positive for COVID-19, following 14 PGs, including four who were affected earlier, have been infected.
Following the Department of Cardiology, many senior doctors and postgraduates at the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital's (RGGGH) Institute of Anaesthesiology have tested positive for COVID-19 as majority of the PG doctors were posted in COVID-19 wards of the hospital.
Following a number of PG doctors and staff nurses at the Department of Cardiology testing positive, the building in which the department functioned was closed for disinfection. It is to be noted that 15 doctors, including heads of department, of the Government Stanley Medical College Hospital also tested positive for the virus.
Doctors have said that the anaesthetists, whose services were supposed to be used for airway management in patients, were posted in COVID-19 wards for regular duty resulting in regular exposure to the infection.
Everyday, at least 25 persons, including PGs and assistant professors of the department, are exposed to the infection. Sources added that at least one-third of the doctors should be kept on reserve but the chiefs are given 24-hour duty. It is recommended that anaesthesia doctors should be on-call duty for intubation.
Doctors say that they cannot wait for COVID-19 results in case of emergency operations. In one such case, 2 doctors tested positive after operating a COVID-19 patient. Doctors have demanded a negative pressure cubicle for operating COVID-19 positive patients.
Apart from anaesthesia, doctors, including PGs, of the urology and neurosurgery departments at RGGGH have also tested positive. There is an accusation that healthcare professionals and workers are not being tested for COVID-19 routinely.
Following the Department of Cardiology, many senior doctors and postgraduates at the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital's (RGGGH) Institute of Anaesthesiology have tested positive for COVID-19 as majority of the PG doctors were posted in COVID-19 wards of the hospital.
Following a number of PG doctors and staff nurses at the Department of Cardiology testing positive, the building in which the department functioned was closed for disinfection. It is to be noted that 15 doctors, including heads of department, of the Government Stanley Medical College Hospital also tested positive for the virus.
Doctors have said that the anaesthetists, whose services were supposed to be used for airway management in patients, were posted in COVID-19 wards for regular duty resulting in regular exposure to the infection.
Everyday, at least 25 persons, including PGs and assistant professors of the department, are exposed to the infection. Sources added that at least one-third of the doctors should be kept on reserve but the chiefs are given 24-hour duty. It is recommended that anaesthesia doctors should be on-call duty for intubation.
Doctors say that they cannot wait for COVID-19 results in case of emergency operations. In one such case, 2 doctors tested positive after operating a COVID-19 patient. Doctors have demanded a negative pressure cubicle for operating COVID-19 positive patients.
Apart from anaesthesia, doctors, including PGs, of the urology and neurosurgery departments at RGGGH have also tested positive. There is an accusation that healthcare professionals and workers are not being tested for COVID-19 routinely.