NZ (NZ): Influx of swine flu patients swamps ICU

Christchurch Hospital's intensive care unit (ICU) is overflowing after an influx of people with swine flu.

ICU staff are working extra shifts to cover the overflow, and new patients requiring intensive care may have to be sent to other South Island hospitals.

Surgeons have been told that any elective-surgery patients needing to recover in the unit, including all elective cardiac surgery patients, could have their surgery postponed.

Influenza experts say the presence of previously healthy people in the unit with swine flu could indicate the virus is mutating and becoming deadlier.

Christchurch Hospital acting general manager Ruth Barclay said yesterday there were eight people in the unit with swine flu or flu-like illnesses who needed ventilation.

The unit usually had no more than 12 patients but had been expanded to accommodate 15.

"The ICU is the area where influenza H1N1 is having the biggest impact," Barclay said.

"We've got young people, from two years to 50, with H1N1, and some have no underlying medical conditions."

The heads of surgical departments had been sent a memo telling them to consult on any surgery requiring ICU recovery time, she said. It had always been anticipated that the spread of swine flu might mean elective surgery had to be postponed.

ICU staff were working longer hours to cope with extra patients, but in the event of a multiple-victim accident or too many new patients being admitted to the unit with influenza, some might have to be transferred to Dunedin, Invercargill or Nelson, Barclay said.

Canterbury hospitals were coping well with the winter influx of patients, she said. There were 59 people in Canterbury hospitals with flu-like symptoms yesterday.

Christchurch virologist Lance Jennings said Wisconsin University researchers in the United States had shown swine flu was more severe than seasonal flu.

The study found swine flu thrived in greater numbers in the respiratory system, including the lungs, and caused lesions, instead of staying in the nose and throat. "It's too early to say whether the virus has mutated or evolved, but it is possible," he said.

Phil Schroeder, who heads the Canterbury Primary Pandemic Planning Group, said swine flu had a higher risk of complications such as pneumonia. People at higher risk included those with asthma, diabetes, heart, lung or kidney disease, and neurological conditions.

Pregnant women and people with compromised immune systems were also at higher risk, Schroeder said.

There were 113 people in hospitals nationwide on Tuesday with swine flu or its complications, the Ministry of Health's weekly H1N1 update shows.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/2598015/Influx-of-swine-flu-patients-swamps-intensive-care-unit