Let's protect the rescuers of children's hearts

The sudden COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted normal life, and there seems to be no quick end in sight. Life has changed, and the role of cardiac surgery has increased. Doctors of the Scientific and Practical Medical Center for Pediatric Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery, as before, are in a hurry to help little hearts. Every year in Ukraine about 4 000 children are born with congenital anomalies of the cardiovascular system, 30-40% of them are in critical condition from the first days of life. These children cannot wait for the quarantine in the country to end; they must be operated immediately.

All patients entering the Center are tested for coronavirus. However, tests can have a margin of error of up to 30%. Since some of the symptoms of COVID-19 are similar to those of cardiovascular disease, there is a risk of exposure of hospital staff to the infection. Due to the fact that the coronavirus infection is transmitted by airborne droplets and is highly contagious, personnel working in the intensive care unit must have personal protective equipment, and this is crucial: an infected doctor cannot save anyone.

In such turbulent circumstances, if we can get the necessary personal protective equipment for the intensive care unit, we will help doctors save the children.