White House physician Sean Conley gives an update on the condition of President Donald Trump on Oct. 3 at Walter Reed Medical Center in Bethesda, Md. (Photo by Brendan SMIALOWSKI / AFP)
AFP via Getty ImagesWhite House physician Dr. Sean Conley and his medical team updated the nation on President Donald Trump’s condition Saturday. Speaking at the Walter Reed National Military Center in Bethesda, Md., where Trump was taken on Friday following his Covid-19 diagnosis, Conley said the president’s symptoms were “resolving and improving.”
Conley took questions about the president’s health. Here’s what was asked and what it means.
On oxygen saturation
Conley: “The last [oxygen] saturation that we had walking around was about 96%.”
Oxygen saturation refers to the amount of oxygen in a patient’s blood and is reflective of how a person’s lungs are functioning. Normal saturation is between 95% and 100%. Values under 90% are considered low.
Hypoxia, oxygen levels that are too low, is treated with supplemental oxygen.
Conley said the president did not receive supplemental oxygen on Saturday. When asked further, Conley said the president was not on oxygen Thursday or Friday while Trump was with the medical team.
On testing and PCR
Reporter: “When was the positive diagnosis made? You said 72 hours, that would put that Wednesday.”
Conley:“Thursday afternoon, following the news of a close contact is when we repeated testing and given clinical indications that were of concern. Late that night is when we got the PCR confirmation that he was.”
PCR is short for polymerase chain reaction. This type of test can detect the genetic fingerprint of a virus, such as Covid-19, making it one of the most accurate testing tools available.
Conley declined to get into testing specifics before the PCR test was administered.
On the inflammatory phase and timeline for discharge
Reporter: “Do you have an estimated date when he might be discharged?”
Conley: “I don’t want to put a hard date on that. He’s doing so well. But with the known course of the illness, day seven to 10 we get really concerned about the inflammatory phase, phase two. Given that we provide these advance therapies so early in the course, a little bit earlier than most of the patients we know and follow, it is hard to tell where he is on that course. Every day we’re evaluating does he need to be here? What does he need? And where is he going?”
The inflammatory phase refers to the body’s response to injury and, in the case of Covid-19, comes after initial infection. Inflammation can damage blood vessels in the lungs, leading to complications. That phase has recently been treated with steroids because of there anti-inflammatory effects.
The S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 1% and 0.5%, respectively, Friday following the president’s diagnosis. The president’s condition is expected to continue to dominate the conversation on Wall Street and elsewhere.
Write to Al Root at allen.root@dowjones.com
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