deadly risk of COVID-19 for those with health conditions The largest study of its
around twice as likely to die from the virus. Head of Cardiology at RNSH and Kolling Institute researcher Professor Ravinay Bhindi said the findings have provided valuable data to assist in the treatment of new cases of COVID-19. “The research is providing timely advice for clinicians, helping them identify the patients most likely to deteriorate and therefore in need of a higher level of care,” he said. “These patient outcomes and emerging trends are also underpinning the importance of vaccination. “It’s critical that all patients with heart failure and other chronic conditions are vaccinated against COVID-19. We now have the data to bleeding in trauma and obstetric patients, as well as supporting the blood management of patients with hereditary bleeding disorders. “The ROTEM Sigma System has revolutionised blood management at RNSH, and is currently providing safer individualised care to facilitate optimised bleeding management,” she said. “The new system is fully automated and is simple and easy to use.
kind in Australia has found patients with a history of heart failure are three times more likely to die from COVID-19. Launched last year at the outset of the pandemic, the AUS-COVID trial is investigating those who are most at risk from COVID-19 in Australia. To date, it has assessed hundreds of patients in 21 hospitals across the country. The study confirmed concerns by clinicians that it was not just those with heart failure who were at a greater risk. It found that patients with chronic kidney disease are twice are likely to die from COVID-19, while patients with chronic lung disease such as emphysema or chronic bronchitis are also recently installed the blood management ROTEM Sigma System thanks to a generous donation of $28,457.00 from the RNSH Pink Ladies Committee. The ROTEM Sigma System is a point-of care coagulation testing device. It facilitates rapid detection of coagulopathy and goal- directed therapy for patients actively, or at risk of, critically bleeding. It provides specific targeted blood management and is individualised to each patient. RNSH Patient Blood Management Clinical Nurse Consultant Phillippa Weaver said the new ROTEM Sigma System enables the team to do rapid diagnosis of coagulopathies to optimise patient blood management in surgeries, and in critical
Professor Ravinay Bhindi
show that if you have one of these chronic conditions and you’re not vaccinated when you get COVID-19, you are much more likely to die. “Our research is based on hundreds of cases across Australia, many with tragic outcomes. It’s important that we use this information to inform the care we provide for patients, and address any vaccine hesitancy with real- life experience.” “Any health professional can be easily trained to use it, and it can be accessed 24 hours a day, with a turnaround time of just 10 to 15 minutes. “Once a Sigma ROTEM blood sample is run and analysed, the result can be made accessible to any computer screen in the hospital. “A huge thank you to the Pink Ladies for the donation which has allowed us to provide safer individualised care for our critically bleeding patients.”
RNSH PINK LADIES DONATION TO THEATRES Royal North Shore Hospital’s operating theatres have
(Left to right): Phillippa Weaver, Erin Foulsham, Joy Stephen, Sharon Frazer and Joan Pateman with the ROTEM Sigma System
WWW.NSLHD.HEALTH.NSW.GOV.AU
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