Medical appraisal on Dr. Martin Salia. By Russell I have been reading with keen interest, several messages from members of this forum regarding our colleague Dr. Martin Salia. Since I was his primary physician whilst on admission in Connaught Hospital, I will be in a better position to throw light on Salias clinical condition. Salia, as he is commonly called amongst his peers, was admitted at Hastings Ebola centre on Fridays, as he was concerned about his ailing health. He had all the clinical symptoms suggestive of Ebola which prompted him to be admitted into Hastings Treatment Centre. Whilst on admission at HTC, he was tested negative for Ebola at the Chinese hospital, With regards to the negativity of the result, he was discharged home and advised to consult a physician for further management as a Non Ebola patient. Salia called me on Friday evening, after the negativity of his Ebola test, requesting medical consult on the following Saturday 8th November. Unfortunately he could not come on Saturday as he alleged to be relatively fine. He suggested to see me on Monday 10th November and this he did. On Monday, I evaluated him at Connaught hospital but interestingly to note, he had all the clinical symptoms of Ebola which warranted retesting for Ebola in another lab. Concerns were been raised by some of our colleagues in retesting but our attending team insisted for retesting. If our team had not insisted in retesting Salia for Ebola, we would have been in a big mess and we could have continued managing him as Non Ebola patients. What a shame!!!!! Meanwhile Salia preliminary lab results from Blue Shield hospital were suggestive of leucopenia and hypokallaemia. All other results were normal. He was rehydrated five litres of Ringers Lactate in 24hrs and 20mEq of KCl was placed in each of the last three litres of drips, to correct the hypokallaemia. On ward rounds this morning he was relatively much better as his weakness had improved but was still having diarrhoea and spiking temp 40.0°C. He was so enthusiastic that his illness is not Ebola. However the shocking news came in after the ward rounds, that his Ebola result from Lakka is now positive for Ebola. I was so devastated and disheartened, as it was difficult to break this sad news to him. Dr. Martha Lado (Kings partnership) and I, met him in his bed and discussed the issue of transfer to Kerry treatment centre. Salia vehemently refused transferral to Kerry Town but insisted to be transferred to Hastings Treatment Centre. We had no option as medical colleagues but to abide by his decision and thereafter transferred to HTC. At the time of transfer to HTC, Salia was very stable. He walked down unaided the three storey Annexe building to the waiting Ambulance. He is very optimistic that he will survive. Sahr Foday and I have discussed his management plan whilst at HTC. Blood grouping and cross matching was done this morning and he has consented to receive convalescent blood. He is willing and ready to be transfused. Lets keep him in our prays.
Posted on: Tue, 11 Nov 2014 23:10:55 +0000
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