Resuscitation: services already saturated?

With the constant rise in the number of hospitalizations linked to the Coronavirus epidemic and an active circulation of the virus across France, many are wondering whether we should expect a second wave. To see more clearly, let’s take stock of the situation of the intensive care units.

To date, the Covid-19 is actively circulating over more than a quarter of French territory. It is obviously in the departments classified in the red zone where the situation is the most worrying. This is particularly the case in the Bouches-du-Rhône department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region (PACA) or even overseas as in Guadeloupe where the CHU is already on the verge of “saturation”, according to a letter sent by the director to the prefect and the Regional Health Agency.

Marseille hospitals have also warned of an influx of new patients in their intensive care units. And for good reason, places are becoming increasingly scarce since the intensive care services must also accommodate non-Covid patients. As mentioned by Dominique Rossi, president of the medical commission for the establishment of Public Assistance, Hospitals of Marseille and head of the urology service of the AP-HM: “non-Covid patients cannot be affected by of Covid patients! “.

While in the spring, the state of health emergency triggered by the national authorities planned to suspend all interventions in order to devote most of the beds to patients suffering from the coronavirus, the strategy has now evolved. As Dominique Rossi said: “The strategy has completely changed now. Care must absolutely be preserved for patients who are not positive for Covid and who need to be treated ”.

To deal with the situation, Dominique Rossi, launched a warning message last Sunday on social networks, in order to call on the population to preserve “hospital capacities”. For him, “the only way to be able to provide intensive care for everyone, whatever the pathologies, is to no longer have entries for Covid. This is why it is necessary to put on a mask, to follow the barrier measures and to avoid festive places. “

If we observe an epidemic rebound, we cannot even speak of a second wave. One thing is certain, the effects of the measures put in place in recent weeks will take effect within two to three weeks. The president of the scientific council, Jean-François Delfraissy explains it thus: “All the measure taken by the politician takes roughly three weeks before having an impact. A decision taken now will have effects only at the beginning of October ”.