Plasma therapy saves critically ill Kerala COVID-19 patient

Kochi: A COVID-19 patient who was critically ill and was put on ventilator support was brought back to life by employing antibodies of a person cured of the novel coronavirus. The patient admitted in Government Medical College recovered through the plasma therapy. Called convalescent plasma collection, the therapy benefitted a 51-year-old COVID-19 patient. It is the first instance of successful use of plasma therapy in COVID-19 treatment in the state, authorities said.

The plasma is be separated from the donor’s blood using an apparatus and the remainder returns to the donor’s circulation. The procedure, which is followed by infusing the required quantity of plasma into the patient’s vein, started on Thursday night and was completed by Friday morning, said Dr. M.A. Andrews, principal of Thrissur Medical College.  

“The donor, Davis Antony, volunteered to donate the plasma. We appreciate the gesture and hope that more such volunteers will approach us in the fight against COVID-19,” Dr Andrews added.