ABSTRACT
Objectives@#Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)–associated mucormycosis (CAM) has emerged as a formidable infection in patients with COVID-19. The aggressive management ofCAM affects quality of life (QOL); thus, this study was designed to assess the QOL in patients with CAM at a tertiary healthcare institution. @*Methods@#This cross-sectional study of 57 patients with CAM was conducted over 6 monthsusing a semi-structured standard questionnaire (the abbreviated World Health Organization Quality of Life questionnaire [WHO-BREF]) and a self-rated improvement (SRI) scale ranging from 0 to 9. Cut-off values of ≤52 and < 7 were considered to indicate poor QOL and poor improvement, respectively. The correlations of QOL and SRI scores were evaluated using Spearman rho values. @*Results@#In total, 27 patients (47.4%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 34.9%–60.1%) and 26 patients (45.6%; 95% CI, 33.4%–58.4%) had poor QOL and poor SRI scores, respectively. The overall median (interquartile range) QOL score was 52 (41–63). Headache (adjusted B, −12.3), localized facial puffiness (adjusted B , −16.4), facial discoloration (adjusted B, −23.4), loosening of teeth (adjusted B, −18.7), and facial palsy (adjusted B, −38.5) wer e significantly associated with the QOL score in patients with CAM. @*Conclusion@#Approximately 1 in 2 patients with CAM had poor QOL and poor improvement.Various CAM symptoms were associated with QOL in these patients. Early recognition is the key to optimal treatment, improved outcomes, and improved QOL in patients with CAM.
ABSTRACT
Respiratory failure and chronic ventilator dependence in tetraplegics following cervical injuries located high on the spine (C1–C3) constitute significant challenges in the rehabilitation of patients given the occurrence of repeated hospitalizations and an ever-increasing financial burden. A 30-year-old man presented with posttraumatic tetraplegia following an unstable injury at the C1–C2 level with cord compression; he was managed by posterior stabilization and decompression followed by ventilator dependence and no rehabilitation until 6 months postinjury. We implanted phrenic nerve stimulator electrodes bilaterally for indirect diaphragm pacing by an implantable pulse generator that allowed for weaning from mechanical ventilation and spontaneous ventilator-free breathing at 20 weeks post-implantation and which facilitated post-tetraplegia rehabilitation. At 36 months after implantation, the patient is ventilator- free without any procedure-related complications or respiratory infections. Diaphragm pacing with phrenic nerve stimulation may be a way forward for ventilator-dependent tetraplegics in developing countries to pursue effective rehabilitation and improved quality of life.