醫療供應商們驚訝COVID-19熱點地區對
腎臟透析設備和用品需求激增，呼吸道疾病為什麼需要透析病毒？
本文摘譯自MASSDEVICE 2020年4月20日評論
以下為詳文
醫療技術製造商已經開始應對冠狀病毒大流行帶來的一些意外短缺。
在COVID-19熱點地區，醫院對腎臟透析設備和用品的需求激增，導致現貨短缺，讓醫療供應商們大吃一驚，因為大家都知道這是呼吸道疾病病毒啊！
一些患者已經開始遭受腎衰竭和呼吸窘迫的折磨，需要24小時透析來清除血液中的雜質。據美國國家腎臟基金會（National Kidney Foundation）的數據，正常的透析治療持續大約4小時，每週進行3次。
據公開報道稱，正如一些病患不得不使用呼吸機一樣，醫療供應商不得不決定哪些COVID-19患者從透析中受益最大，或者提供更短的透析時間來治療更多的患者。
作為回應，Fresenius公司（紐約證券交易所代碼：FMS）和Baxter公司（紐約證券交易所代碼：BAX）宣佈，他們將提供額外的腎臟透析設備和用品給治療COVID-19患者的醫院。北美Fresenius Medical Care公司週五表示，公司將準備大約150臺透析設備以快速部署到醫院，並使可用於治療的消耗品數量增加近一倍。
北美Fresenius Medical Care公司首席執行官Bill Valle在新聞發佈會上說：“在這個關鍵時期，越來越多的住院患者需要腎臟替代治療，這給全國許多醫院的設備、供應、解決方案和護理支持帶來了壓力。我們致力於支持醫院的持續供應，尤其是在受影響最嚴重的地方，以便患者可以得到他們需要的護理。”
Baxter公司表示，已提高其PrisMax和Prismaflex血液淨化系統的產能和產量，除此以外，還有解決方案和消耗品；Mini袋+藥物輸送系統；Spectrum IQ輸液系統和配套的靜脈給藥裝置；靜脈給藥解決方案；以及在ICU和整個醫院使用的可注射藥物。
這家總部位於伊利諾伊州迪爾菲爾德的公司表示，所有生產這些產品的Baxter工廠都在最大限度地提高產量，並尋求進一步增加供應的途徑。Baxter公司還表示，根據公共衛生報告，它正在輸送救生產品到最需要的地方。雖然現有客戶將繼續獲得產品，但該公司表示，將為全球最大的COVID-19患者護理需求的醫院，提供額外的庫存，並將定期更新這些分配，以反映動態情況。
Baxter公司還表示，公司已經開始在美國和歐洲之間更頻繁地輸送COVID-19患者所需的設備和產品，正在“積極地”監控增量原材料和零部件的供應情況和購買情況。
Baxter公司首席執行官Jose Almeida在另一份新聞稿中說：“我們的醫療必需品將我們置於這場流行病的最前沿，為了給患者帶來有意義的改變，我們的50,000名同事正在迎接挑戰。鑑於需求之高，我們要優先把產品送到最需要的地方——醫院，這一點至關重要。因為醫院被大量湧入的COVID-19危重病人壓得喘不過氣來了。”
Latest pandemic-related shortages: Dialysis machines & supplies
April 20, 2020 By Nancy Crotti Leave a Comment
Medtech manufacturers have begun responding to some unexpected shortages brought on by the coronavirus pandemic.
Demand for kidney dialysis equipment and supplies has jumped in hospitals in COVID-19 hot spots, leading to spot shortages and taking healthcare providers by surprise, as they considered the virus a respiratory disease.
Some patients have begun suffering from kidney failure as well as respiratory distress and need ’round-the-clock dialysis to clean impurities from their blood. A normal dialysis treatment lasts about 4 hours and is done 3 times per week, according to the National Kidney Foundation.
And just as some have had to do with ventilators, healthcare providers have had to decide which COVID-19 patients would benefit the most from dialysis or to provide it for shorter durations to treat more patients, according to published reports.
In response, Fresenius (NYSE:FMS) and Baxter (NYSE:BAX) have announced that they will provide extra kidney dialysis equipment and supplies to hospitals that need them to treat COVID-19 patients. Fresenius Medical Care North America said Friday that it will make about 150 pieces of dialysis equipment ready for rapid deployment to hospitals, and nearly double the volume of consumables available to perform treatments.
Specifically, Fresenius said it would:
Create a pool of its NxStage critical care units already located in hospitals across the U.S. that could be redeployed to other areas of need with 1 week’s notice.
Allocate a pool of NxStage System One cyclers, typically used in homes or skilled nursing units, to provide additional equipment for intensive care units.
Double the company’s tubing set and filter capacity.
Increase by 75% its premixed dialysate fluid capacity with bagged lactate dialysate solution.
“During this critical time, the growing number of hospitalized patients in need of renal replacement therapy has put pressure on both equipment, supplies, solutions, and nursing support in many hospitals across the country,” said Bill Valle, CEO of Fresenius Medical Care North America, in a news release. “We are committed to supporting hospitals with continuous supply, particularly in markets most heavily impacted, so that patients can get the care they need.”
Baxter said it has boosted its capacity and production of its PrisMax and Prismaflex blood purification systems, along with the solutions and consumables that enable them; its Mini-Bag Plus drug delivery system; the Spectrum IQ Infusion System and accompanying IV administration sets; IV solutions; and injectable drugs used in the ICU and across the hospital.
All Baxter plants that manufacture these products are maximizing production levels and looking for ways to further increase supply, according to the Deerfield, Ill.-based company. Baxter also said it is channeling life-saving products where they are needed the most, based on public health reports. While current customers will continue to have access to products, the company said it will dedicate additional inventory to hospitals around the world with the greatest COVID-19 patient care needs and will update those allocations regularly to reflect the dynamic situation.
Baxter also said it has begun shipping more devices and products needed by COVID-19 patients more frequently between the U.S. and Europe. And the company said it is “aggressively” monitoring the availability of and buying incremental raw materials and components.
“Our medically essential products put us on the front lines of this pandemic, and our 50,000 colleagues are rising to the challenge to make a meaningful difference for patients,” said Baxter CEO Jose Almeida in a separate news release. “Given that demand is at extraordinary levels, it is critical that we prioritize getting our products where they are most needed — hospitals that are being overwhelmed by an influx of patients who are critically ill from COVID-19.”
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