Transfer of a critically ill coronavirus disease patient

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a feature of SARS-CoV-2, and transferring patients with severe ARDS is challenging owing to their condition and risk of infection during the transfer process. The hemodynamic instability of critically ill patients adds to the challenge of safe transfer, which requires thorough preparation of personnel, medication, equipment, and communication and transport methods, all of which must be organised within the infection control framework. In this case report we discuss a woman, 37 years of age, with suggested COVID-19, intubated due to severe ARDS. Owing to the hospital referral policy in Indonesia, the patient was transferred to a specialist infectious disease hospital by land ambulance, with a special transfer team formed to adhere to infection control protocols and critical patient transfer procedures. Copyright © 2020, Australasian College of Paramedicine. All rights reserved.

Neurological manifestation as an implication of covid-19 pandemic at a hospital in aceh, Indonesia

Introduction: Coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) has quickly spread to more than 200 countries as a global health pandemic. The outbreak of the COVID-19 infection in Wuhan (China) has brought its clinicians to investigate different manifestations, including neurological presentations of this novel infection. As of 12 October 2020, the number of deaths due to COVID-19 is 1.08 million worldwide, with 11,935 cases in Indonesia and 209 cases in Aceh. This study aimed to determine the neurological manifestations in patients confirmed with COVID-19. Methods: A Retrospective cross-sectional study design from neurology patients who diagnosed with COVID-19 and were hospitalized at the Dr. Zainoel Abidin Hospital from March to September 2020. COVID-19 diagnosis was confirmed with polymerase chain reaction (PCR) swab test that met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Results: We collected 36 cases, consisting of 19 males (53%) and 17 females (47%) with a mean age of> 60 years 47%. According to the comorbidities data, 53% of patients were smoking, 47% had hypertension, 8% had diabetes mellitus, 8% had a history of stroke, and 8% had malignancy. Neurological manifestations included limbs weakness and cranial nerve paresis (55%), decreased consciousness (39%), and headache (22%). At admission, several patients had stroke (47%), cephalgia (14%), metabolic encephalopathy (8%), and vertigo (5%). Finally, 16 patients died during the period of observation. Conclusion: Patients with COVID-19 commonly have neurological manifestations such as limb weakness, cranial nerve paresis, decreased consciousness, headache, dizziness, olfactory disturbances, and seizures. © 2021, Sanglah General Hospital. All rights reserved.