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'Best chance' for swine flu woman 'Best chance' for swine flu woman
(31 minutes later)
A pregnant woman with swine flu is getting the "best possible treatment" after being flown to Sweden, according to the Scottish Health Secretary.A pregnant woman with swine flu is getting the "best possible treatment" after being flown to Sweden, according to the Scottish Health Secretary.
The 26-year-old woman who is critically ill had been admitted to Crosshouse Hospital in Kilmarnock, last week where she had been put on a ventilator. The 26-year-old woman who is critically ill had been admitted to Crosshouse Hospital in Kilmarnock last week, where she had been put on a ventilator.
She was transferred to Stockholm on Thursday because no beds were available in the UK for the procedure she needs.She was transferred to Stockholm on Thursday because no beds were available in the UK for the procedure she needs.
Nicola Sturgeon said she had had a "very rare reaction to the H1N1 virus."Nicola Sturgeon said she had had a "very rare reaction to the H1N1 virus."
The woman needs a procedure in which her blood will be circulated out of her body and oxygen added artificially. The Ayrshire woman needs a procedure in which her blood will be circulated out of her body and oxygen added artificially.
It is known as extra corporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) and involves a machine taking over the function of the patient's heart and lungs.It is known as extra corporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) and involves a machine taking over the function of the patient's heart and lungs.
The UK has a national ECMO unit in Leicester, to which Scottish patients would normally be sent.The UK has a national ECMO unit in Leicester, to which Scottish patients would normally be sent.
She is now getting treatment that gives her the best possible chance of survival Nicola Sturgeon MSPHealth Secretary We buy some time for the lungs to get betterÂ…but she has to get better by herself Dr Palle PalmerKarolinska University Hospital, Stockholm
However, all five beds in the unit were in use.However, all five beds in the unit were in use.
Before the woman was transferred, a medical team from Sweden came to Scotland to assess her. She was then accompanied by the Swedish doctors on a private flight from Prestwick in Ayrshire.
Ms Sturgeon told BBC Scotland: "She is now getting treatment that gives her the best possible chance of survival."Ms Sturgeon told BBC Scotland: "She is now getting treatment that gives her the best possible chance of survival."
She said doctors were pleased with how the pregnant woman had coped with the journey and she said the treatment "might and hopefully will save her life".She said doctors were pleased with how the pregnant woman had coped with the journey and she said the treatment "might and hopefully will save her life".
She added: "It is a highly-specialised procedure and that is why given a bed was found for her in Sweden the decision was taken by her clinical team to recommend transfer there."She added: "It is a highly-specialised procedure and that is why given a bed was found for her in Sweden the decision was taken by her clinical team to recommend transfer there."
'Unusual case' Dr Palle Palmer, from Karolinska University Hospital in Stockholm, told the BBC the treatment would take pressure off the patient's lungs.
Before the woman was transferred, a medical team from Sweden came to Scotland to assess her. "We buy some time for the lungs to get better . . . but she has to get better by herself," he said.
Patient swaps
He added it was common for patients to be transferred to Sweden from other countries and they also sent patients abroad for this procedure.
"We have been swapping patients for 10 years.
"We send about 10 patients per year out and bring in 10-15 patients."
Dr Robert Masterton, executive medical director of NHS Ayrshire and Arran said: "Once an ECMO bed was identified in Sweden, our intensive care specialists worked closely with our Swedish colleagues to make sure the patient was stable before being transferred."Dr Robert Masterton, executive medical director of NHS Ayrshire and Arran said: "Once an ECMO bed was identified in Sweden, our intensive care specialists worked closely with our Swedish colleagues to make sure the patient was stable before being transferred."
He added: "The family have been fully involved in this decision and support this referral. They have asked for privacy while they concentrate on the patient's treatment and recovery."He added: "The family have been fully involved in this decision and support this referral. They have asked for privacy while they concentrate on the patient's treatment and recovery."
The health secretary stressed this particular case was unusual.The health secretary stressed this particular case was unusual.
Ms Sturgeon said: "It remains the case that for the overwhelming majority of people who get this virus the symptoms are very mild and they will make a full recovery within a matter of days without any complications whatsoever."Ms Sturgeon said: "It remains the case that for the overwhelming majority of people who get this virus the symptoms are very mild and they will make a full recovery within a matter of days without any complications whatsoever."