[ad_1]
So far, 50 people in the canton of Basel-City have died from the coronavirus. The canton of Baselland recorded 32 deaths. Alexandar Tzankov, head of the autopsy department at the Basel University Hospital, along with his colleagues at the Basel Cantonal Hospital, performed an autopsy on 21 deceased people. “We are simply doing our job here,” says Tzankov, when asked about the German media reports. There he is almost described as a hero because he continues to perform autopsies in the current situation. In Germany, the Robert Koch Institute advised against examining deceased crown patients. Too dangerous for doctors. However, this recommendation has been withdrawn.
Tzankov and his team, however, never stopped doing their job. There is
Of course, stricter standards for hygiene compliance, but “we are well equipped for infectious autopsies,” said Tzankov. He and his colleagues in Basel and Basel already have experience with patients with HIV and hepatitis C. “We will work with full respect, but without fear,” says the pathologist. On the one hand, the autopsy is the last medical act on a patient and, on the other hand, the most complete examination in which one can work systematically without pressure and recognize new relationships.
Findings help doctors
Of course, motivation to learn more about the coronavirus also plays a role. For this reason, Tzankov and his colleagues based in Basel have just submitted a study that will soon be published in a specialist journal.
They have obtained important knowledge of the autopsy of the deceased. “The disease occurs in the smallest vessels in the lungs and in other organs. If these vessels can no longer function properly, clots form, “explains Tzankov. Because it is actually your job to keep the blood liquid. Due to the blockage of the bloodstream, the blood is now practically immobile. “If the patient is now ventilated, oxygen enters the blood, but is no longer distributed in the body,” says Tzankov. This ultimately leads to death, as was the case with the 21 patients examined by pathologists in the region after their death. However, only a few would have shown signs of pneumonia.
Tzankov is in contact with pathologists in Germany and Spain. They also reached similar conclusions. These, in turn, could now help doctors in hospitals fight the virus: “Our knowledge of the vessels allows us to draw conclusions about potentially effective therapies,” said Tzankov. The results of the 21 autopsies also confirm previous findings: all patients suffered from high blood pressure, belonged to the risk group, were predominantly male, and were overweight. Furthermore, blood group A was overrepresented. Tzankov emphasizes: “It is not about pointing the finger at a population group.” Rather, it wants to demonstrate that people are not to blame for the disease, but in particular need protection.
Special protection measures apply.
Meanwhile, Tzankov and his team have returned to normal work. There have been no deaths from the coronavirus in Basel in ten days. Even in the crown crisis, they perform autopsies on those who have otherwise died. “We look closely at the medical history before the exam.” If the person was negative for the coronavirus, the autopsy can be performed without special safety precautions. Tzankov: “Whether or not someone tested positive, we take special protection measures and sometimes use less staff.” Courage or heroism is not one of them. After all, it is just a job.
