ABSTRACT
Background Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) predisposes patients to both arterial and venous thrombosis due to excessive inflammation, platelet activation, endothelial dysfunction, and stasis. Therefore, therapeutic anticoagulant therapy has been an integral part for management in patients with moderate to severe COVID-19 disease. We shall here discuss the concerns of starting anticoagulants in patients with COVID-19 disease who are already on antiplatelets, an unexplored area. Case presentation We herein report a case of 61-year-old patient with hypertension and diabetes mellitus type 2 with COVID-19 disease. Patient also had coronary artery disease and underwent CABG 4 years ago and was on aspirin 75-mg HS, clopidogrel 75-mg OD, and tab atorvastatin 40-mg HS. Patient was hemodynamically stable and was maintaining a saturation of 66% on room air and a saturation of 96% on 02 by high FiO2 partial rebreathing face mask. On auscultation, crepitations were present in bilateral lower lung fields. The patient was admitted under moderate category of COVID-19 SARS in the intensive care unit (ICU). Despite of standard care and treatment, in next 2 days, the oxygenation deteriorated Pa02/Fi02 < 200, and intermittent noninvasive ventilation had to be started, and patient's clinical condition fell into the severe disease category, wherein there was a need to start IV methylprednisolone and to start the therapeutic dose of anticoagulant, i.e., enoxaparin. The D-dimer was greater than 1000 ng/mL therapeutic dose of enoxaparin, i.e., 2 U/kg in two divided doses was started. Patient's condition improved. In the present case, we fraught with the increased risk of bleeding or mortality subsequent to increasing the dose of anticoagulant as the patient was already on antiplatelets. Conclusions We emphasize that one must evaluate the risk and benefit of bleeding vs improved oxygenation prior to considering the therapeutic dose of LMW heparin in patients who are already on antiplatelets. A track on d-dimer and fibrinogen levels for dose titration may be useful step in this set of patients. We reiterate upon the formulation of dogmatic guidelines in this context is warranted.
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Patients with corona virus disease-19 (COVID-19)-induced acute hypoxemic respiratory failure (AHRF) are often on non-invasive ventilation (NIV) and use of awake prone positioning (PP) may pose concern in terms of feasibility, efficacy and side effects. This systematic review was undertaken to evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of awake PP along with NIV in them. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A systematic literature search was conducted from the inception of COVID-19 until 15 August 2021. Various factors including feasibility, interface used, outcome, efficacy, side effects and limitations in both intensive care unit (ICU) and Non-ICU setups were noted. RESULTS: A total of 12 original articles and six case series including 359 patients were involved. Out of it, 40% (n = 122) of patients were in ICU and 60% (n = 237) in Non-ICU areas. Four clinical studies and four case series including 114 patients had evaluated PP along with helmet continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). All had found PP with helmet CPAP to be feasible and efficacious; however, only one study documented the sustained improvement in oxygenation i.e., 12 h after PP. CONCLUSIONS: The present systematic review observed moderate to serious risk of bias amongst the included studies along with heterogeneity in terms of varied respiratory support amongst patients. However, the use of awake PP in patients on NIV has been found to be feasible and efficacious with no adverse events.