Lung treatment tested in NZ

An experimental drug hoped to benefit Covid19-infected patients across the globe is being tested in the Waikato. The drug hopes to prevent or reduce lung damage caused through the use of medical ventilators. With more than 10.5 million confirmed coronavirus cases worldwide the number of patients hooked up to medical ventilators continues to rise. The ventilators help the lungs work by moving breathable air in and out for those who are unable to breathe sufficiently on their own. However, the process can cause ventilator-induced lung injury, contributing to patients declining condition. But Wintec academic Dr Kevin Stewart is hoping a medication developed by the University of Auckland may prevent or reduce that damage. To test this medication, Stewart assembled a ‘‘lung rig’’ which simulates what happens when patients are put on a ventilator and accurately measures and imitates a pair of lungs. Lung function and deterioration are very difficult to be measured on people, Stewart said. ‘‘I can stretch the lungs in the same way as a mechanical ventilator does.’’ The trial medication is delivered to Stewart in very small vile quantities which is dissolved in the plasma and then put through the lung rig. Artificial blood containing the medication is put through the machine and into the lungs, allowing Stewart to make measurements on how well the blood and medication are performing. ‘‘There’s been a need for many years for people on ventilators and it is well known that there is no drug treatment available for people on ventilators that can help them,’’ Stewart said.