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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Swine flu woman treated in Sweden | Swine flu woman treated in Sweden |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| A pregnant woman critically ill with swine flu has been transferred to Sweden for specialised treatment after suffering an extreme reaction. | A pregnant woman critically ill with swine flu has been transferred to Sweden for specialised treatment after suffering an extreme reaction. |
| The 26-year-old woman was admitted to Crosshouse Hospital in Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, with H1N1 last week. | The 26-year-old woman was admitted to Crosshouse Hospital in Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, with H1N1 last week. |
| But after complications, the hospital recommended a procedure in which her blood will be circulated outwith her body and oxygen added artificially. | But after complications, the hospital recommended a procedure in which her blood will be circulated outwith her body and oxygen added artificially. |
| A Leicester unit which carries this out is full so she has been sent to Sweden. | A Leicester unit which carries this out is full so she has been sent to Sweden. |
| The procedure is known as extra corporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) and involves a machine taking over the function of the patient's heart and lungs. | The procedure is known as extra corporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) and involves a machine taking over the function of the patient's heart and lungs. |
| 'Highly specialised' | 'Highly specialised' |
| The UK has a national ECMO unit in Leicester, to which Scottish patients would normally be sent. | |
| However, all five beds in this unit are currently in use. | However, all five beds in this unit are currently in use. |
| A bed in a similar unit was found in Stockholm, where the woman has been flown to receive the treatment. | A bed in a similar unit was found in Stockholm, where the woman has been flown to receive the treatment. |
| Scottish Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon said: "The patient has now arrived at hospital in Stockholm. | Scottish Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon said: "The patient has now arrived at hospital in Stockholm. |
| "Doctors are pleased with how she has coped with the journey, which is obviously encouraging news. | "Doctors are pleased with how she has coped with the journey, which is obviously encouraging news. |
| "But the patient is critically ill, which is why she has had to be transferred for this highly specialised procedure." | "But the patient is critically ill, which is why she has had to be transferred for this highly specialised procedure." |
| She said the small number of beds in the UK reflected the fact that it was very rare for any patients to require the treatment. | She said the small number of beds in the UK reflected the fact that it was very rare for any patients to require the treatment. |
| But she added: "We're also part of pan-European arrangements, and it's by virtue of this that clinicians have been able to arrange this transfer." | But she added: "We're also part of pan-European arrangements, and it's by virtue of this that clinicians have been able to arrange this transfer." |
| Ms Sturgeon said she did not know if the patients currently being treated in the Leicester unit have swine flu. | Ms Sturgeon said she did not know if the patients currently being treated in the Leicester unit have swine flu. |