GMCs now consuming two month’s oxygen in a day

Nagpur: Government medical colleges and hospitals are now consuming almost two full tanks having capacity to store 3,000 cubic metre of medical oxygen on a daily basis since last two weeks days in their dedicated Covid hospitals (DCHs).
Doctors said the consumption is unprecedented as over 700 Covid patients are being administered oxygen in varying concentration at both GMCs. Each Covid patient is needing at least two litre to 70 litres of oxygen every day. “The higher requirement indicates condition of patient’s lungs when they are being brought here,” they said.
Mayo officials said they are refilling their tank twice a day. The tank’s capacity is 6,000 cu mm but it can store 3,000 cu mm liquid only before conversion to gaseous state. They said one tank was enough for a month before the outbreak.
Fortunately, there is no shortage of supply as many industries in region had switched to medical oxygen production in March following divisional commissioner Dr Sanjeev Kumar’s request. Oxygen is playing an important role in treating moderate to severe and even some asymptomatic patients.
As compared to entire March, when Indira Gandhi Government Medical College and Hospital’s (IGGMCH) lone Covid isolation ward consumed just three jumbo and 68 small cylinders, 2,849.40 cubic metre oxygen was supplied through its tank to its DCH on July 28.
As per IGGMCH officials, approximately 7,000 jumbo and small cylinders can fill up its tank with a storage capacity of 3,000 cu mm. All 300 Covid patients in IGGMCH’s DCH are getting oxygen from the tank while medical manifold set up using jumbo cylinders remains on stand -by.
Small cylinders are being used during inter-ward transfers or on way to investigations.
Between May 3 to July 28, IGGMCH has consumed 46,832 cu mm from its tank, 296 small and 138 jumbo cylinders.
At GMCH, the DCH is mainly supplied oxygen through the medical manifold (group of large cylinders to supply via pipeline). As per its record, 4,996 cu mm was consumed in July by the DCH. Between March and July, 10,500 cu mm from jumbo cylinders, 1,87,777 cu mm from tank and 1,961 from small cylinders have been consumed. The GMCH tank also supplies to rest of the wards hence its tank consumption is four times of IGGMCH, also known as Mayo hospital.
At Mayo, 140 jumbo cylinders are always attached to the manifold for emergency use or to maintain pressure during tank refilling. Another 260 jumbo cylinders are reserved in case of pressure drop. The 280 smaller ones are for mobile use.