Jasmine Bazán
01/31/2021 15:19
Clarín.com
Society
Updated 01/31/2021 3:19 PM
July 13, 2020 marked a break in the life of cardiovascular surgeon Juan Carlos Otondo (48).
A swab confirmed that both the fever and the sporadic cough that he had been dragging a few days ago were not due to a flu picture: he had contracted Covid 19. He cannot identify when it happened, since he treated about
fifty patients per day
between the office, the operating room and the guard, in four different sanatoriums.
Otondo - "Otis" for his friends - lacked pathologies and antecedents, did not consume any medication, nor did he smoke.
The initial symptoms were expected and everything indicated that the disease would pass without major complications.
But, after a few days, the situation took
a dramatic turn
.
As part of the health personnel who put the body to save lives in the midst of a pandemic, the doctor always knew that there was a risk of contagion, although he never imagined what would happen.
In an interview with
Clarín
, he spoke about his experience as a critical patient, the long process of his recovery, his expectations for the future, his unwavering vocation and the importance of maintaining care to prevent the spread of the virus.
The visible scar on his neck is the first sign of what he had to endure.
To explain each of the marks on his body, the doctor goes back to the afternoon of July 16, when he entered the place where he had made his residency: the Argerich Hospital due to complications derived from the coronavirus.
Due to an unfavorable evolution and respiratory difficulties, after 48 hours he was taken to intensive care.
He was first hooked up to a respirator and eventually had a tracheostomy.
Only on September 8 would the cannula be removed.
Throughout the two months that elapsed until his discharge, Otondo suffered from different intercurrent illnesses (that is, that occur during the course of another): among them, ventilator-associated pneumonia, which led to a picture of sepsis or generalized infection ;
an acute kidney infection, for which he had to undergo dialysis;
and digestive hemorrhages, which required surgical treatment.
He lost 23 kilos and the lack of muscle mass did not allow him to stand
.
"I took a photo with my cell phone and I realized that it was not me: I was thin, with bulging eyes," he says.
Away from his family, his old colleagues and friends became an essential professional and emotional support.
Due to the sedation and muscle relaxants she received, it is difficult for her to recover the details of her hospitalization.
“When I woke up, I remembered confusing episodes: mainly how it started and how it all ended.
At first I did not know what date it was, if it was day or night, what had happened to me.
I have like a slip.
Only when I became aware, fear came about what had happened and how it could remain ”, he adds.
The doctor Juan Carlos Otondo asks to think about the people who are having a hard time with the coronavirus.
Photo Maxi Failla.
The immediate consequences of the disease involved sensitivity disorders, with a cold effect on the ring and little fingers, a "clubfoot" (bent and partially internally rotated).
“I had questions, fears.
For example, not recovering, partially recovering or being left with severe sequelae, which represents a personal, family and financial problem ”, he confesses.
Not being in a dependent relationship in some of his jobs, his income decreased during his stay in the hospital.
“I am a Catholic, I had faith in God.
But what drove me the most was to seek well-being.
If you stay at home, you don't generate resources, you can't meet basic needs, you can't eat.
The need for financial support stimulated me, it helped me to move forward, "he says.
The doctor thought a lot about his little children.
"My relatives found out about my progress from the medical reports, by phone," he says.
The role of the hospital's administrative staff, the orderlies, the doctors, male and female nurses stands out.
“I have nothing but gratitude to the Argerich workers.
It is nice to know that there are people who love you, who have been there, keeping you present in the prayer chains, coming to donate blood.
There you realize that there are people you don't even know and they are there for you ”.
Otondo is a native of Bolivia.
Throughout the two decades he has been in Argentina - a country he defines as "his home" - he became great friends.
One of them is the cardiovascular surgeon José Orozco.
"Juan is a brother," Orozco points out.
She did the residency with him and, since then, they grew up and worked together.
“The Thursday before he was admitted we operated together.
When he sent me the CT scan with the lung damage, I couldn't believe it.
We always talked about how the virus was going to hit us, but we never thought it would be like that ”, he adds.
On difficult days, he stood by his partner's side: he kept in touch with the family, brought him the fees from the places where they practiced together, and was one of the many colleagues who donated blood.
“He received calls every day from people asking about him.
He is a very loved guy, a great person and a hardworking animal.
When the ugly days came, when we all expected the worst, it was super distressing.
One day he finally started to get better.
The bleeding from the intestine stopped.
The kidney kicked in and went off dialysis.
In about four days he was awake, without a respirator.
We couldn't believe it.
It was an incredible happiness.
He was more than 20 kilos less, he was super beaten, but alive.
We could see him more often, we would visit him and help him.
He did not walk, he moved his hands very little, but his head was intact ”, remembers Orozco, with pride.
“It was a very hard case for us, because he worked with many of us in therapy and we remembered him.
At first we had a lot of hope, because he had no prior history, because he is young, healthy, without risk factors.
But as the disease progressed, many serious complications appeared.
The solidarity of the Hospital was seen.
They called, consulted for him, approached.
For us it was very difficult, because he was one of the first colleagues, friends that we attended.
At some point, I was afraid that it would not come out.
His sister Cristina, who is an intensivist, came every night.
We all thought of their relatives who live far away, their children, their affections.
We were at a time when the protocol for family visits did not exist ”, adds one of the Argerich professionals who attended the doctor in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).
“I remember one day, when the improvement had started, that Juan got angry about something.
Far from being upset, we feel relief and think: 'If you have the strength to get angry, it is because it will be fine,' "he reveals, laughing.
The return home of Dr. Otondo, on September 16, was a moment of joy, of reunion, but also of new challenges: kinesiological treatment, medication and a lot of willpower.
"In the post-extubation stage I saw that I had bedsores at the support points: on the scalp, in the occipital region, in the sacral part and on both heels," he says.
Over time, the bedsores were healing (some, very recently).
He has yet to undergo healing on his heels and was
unable to put on shoes or his usual socks again
: now he moves with the Swedes he wears when he attends.
Over time, thanks to strong determination, the doctor managed to get back to work.
It started with an office and ultrasounds.
This month he returned to all his positions, those he had before he got sick.
Even the 24-hour guards.
Physical recovery is not complete, but it is progressing.
His “clubfoot” improved by 50%: it is difficult for him to walk fast, but he is seen to advance at a steady pace.
His determination makes the difficulty almost imperceptible.
“My expectation is to return to normality at work: I am a cardiovascular surgeon, I work with my hands.
I need to achieve greater strength, greater speed, greater agility.
Luckily, I am part of a team of several surgeons and we help each other.
Anyway ...
with everything I've achieved so far, I already feel happy,
"he warns.
A fight day by day
Daily he faces patients with covid or with symptoms of the virus.
“A confusion of feelings alternates.
One, understandably, is fear.
You say, '
Uh, again.
What is going to happen?
'Memories come to mind ... fear is always there.
But you also know that the person needs you and that you can prevent them from reaching what you went through.
So what one seeks is to attend, provide the patient with everything he needs and help him avoid complications ”, reflects Otondo.
When asked if he ever doubted his vocation in the most difficult times, the answer is categorical: “That was never in question.
I was born to be a doctor, I am going to continue to be a doctor and I think I am going to die attending
”.
What would you say to those who relaxed health care?
“
I am sorry that there are people who do not understand the seriousness of the problem
.
This is a disease that can touch anyone: it does not respect sex, social class, nothing.
We must avoid attending events where there is a massive congregation, maintain social distance, the use of an appropriate mask, frequent hand washing, the use of alcohol.
They are the general measures that we all know, but we are not applying them.
Not being careful is a potential risk
.
It's about being aware and taking a minute to put yourself in the shoes of the people who are having a hard time. "
He knows about it.
EMJ
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