In the extremely critical period of the coronavirus pandemic, when the entire health care system has been facing a huge influx of patients and reduced hospitalization capacity, Acibadem Sistina Hospital has made a significant contribution to tackling the coronavirus and saving hundreds of lives. In the last 5 months, 337 patients were hospitalized in the Infectious Diseases Intensive Care Unit, 1,489 outpatient examinations were performed, and 439 patients were treated in the day hospital at their initial examination.

Given the fact that 70 percent of the hospitalized patients were critically ill, with advanced disease, low oxygen saturation below 80% and other comorbidities, the results of their treatment testify to an extremely successful approach in the treatment of Covid-19 patients, with a mortality rate of 15% and an average hospital stay of 10 days. All 337 hospital patients were on oxygen support, with an average age of 60 years, and the average age of the deceased patients was 65 years. It should be noted that 28 patients out of all deceased patients (53) recovered from the Covid-19 disease, but died from respiratory failure or cardiovascular complications.

“What we would like to point out is the low mortality rate of 25% in the patients who were treated with assisted mechanical ventilation – invasive and non-invasive (ventilator). So far, 92 patients in the department have been put on mechanical ventilator, resulting in successful treatment completion in 70 of them. Out of eight patients who were connected to the ECMO machine, we saved the lives of 5 patients whose chances of survival were minimal,” said Dr. Zharko Hristovski, medical director of Acibadem Sistina Hospital.

Most Modern Treatment Approach

The Infectious Diseases Intensive Care Unit of Acibadem Sistina Hospital is the only private infectious diseases department in the country with the largest capacity, applying the most modern Covid-19 treatment protocols of the World Health Organization, Acibadem Health Group and the second largest hospital group in the world (IHH). The hospital is a pioneer in the provision of latest therapy, including the drugs Tocilizumab, Remdesivir, Favipiravir and Ivermectin, immunoglobulins, as well as antibiotic therapy (according to microbiological findings), vitamin therapy, hepatoprotective therapy…

The department has a capacity of 51 beds supplied with oxygen support system, of which 2 beds for ECMO, 38 beds for ventilatory support, 1 bed for hemodialysis and 2 beds for ultradiafiltration. The day hospital has 4 beds.

 Multidisciplinary Team of Specialists for Covid-19 Patient Care

A team of 26 specialists from various fields and 72 other medical staff are engaged in the treatment of Covid-19 patients at Acibadem Sistina. The multidisciplinary team of doctors is composed of 3 infectious diseases specialists, 7 intensive care anesthesiologists, as well as pulmonologists, cardiologists, nephrologists, transfusion medicine specialists, nutritionists and other specialists who are involved in the treatment depending on the patient’s condition.

“This approach is the key to successful treatment of patients because it is already clear that Covid-19 is not just a respiratory disease. The most important part of the treatment is the right decision for timely placement of patients on invasive and non-invasive ventilatory support and monitoring of patients’ condition, and we have a leading team of intensive care anesthesiologists who are trained to monitor this type of patients with critical vital signs”, says Dr. Hristovski.

286 Patients from Covid-19 Centers in Our Country and Kosovo Were Transferred to the Infectious Diseases Department of Acibadem Sistina Hospital

With three fully equipped ambulances and a mobile team, in the past 5 months Acibadem Sistina admitted 286 patients who were transferred from other Covid-19 centers in the country and Kosovo, and another 34 patients who were transported directly to our Infectious Diseases Department. In order to respond to this significant number of transfers, the hospital also cooperated with the ambulance transport service of “Neuromedica”.

55,660 Covid-19 Tests Performed in the Laboratory of Acibadem Sistina Hospital

As of April 2020, Acibadem Sistina’s Laboratory has performed a total of 55,660 Covid-19 tests. Of the total number of tests, 40,812 were PCR-molecular tests, the results of which showed the presence of coronavirus in 7841 patients, or 24%. The remaining number of tests performed (14,182) refer to rapid antigen tests and serological IgG/IgM tests for antibody detection. In order to meet the growing needs for testing, our laboratory increased its capacity, and has a team of experienced molecular biologists, biologists, a microbiologist, biochemists and more than 30 laboratory technicians.

The Infectious Diseases Department is operating at full capacity and is ready to continue to respond to Covid-19 patient requirements. So far no patient has been rejected regardless of the disease severity.