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Background: Persistence of orthostatic tachycardia, palpitations, and fatigue beyond 4 weeks of an acute COVID-19 infection has been termed Post-Acute Sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC) POTS. We have previously reported 6-month outcomes of PASC POTS. Long-term management and outcomes of these patients is unknown. Objective(s): To examine the long-term management and outcomes of PASC POTS patients. Method(s): We conducted a retrospective study of all patients who were diagnosed with POTS at Cardiology, Neurology, and Rehabilitation Post-COVID clinic after a COVID-19 infection between March 1, 2020, and November 1, 2022, at the University of Texas Health San Antonio. We examined COVID history, POTS diagnosis, management, and one-year outcomes of post-COVID POTS patients. Result(s): In 42 patients that were diagnosed with PASC POTS, 33 had a one-year follow-up. 100% were female, 60.6% were Caucasian. Average age was 40.6 + 11 years while the average BMI was 31.9 + 10.4 kg/m2. The most common symptoms were fatigue (87.9%), palpitations (75.7%), brain fog (72.7%), orthostatic tachycardia, exercise intolerance, and dyspnea (70%). The mean heart rate change with 10-minute standing test was 42.68 + 26.73 beats per minute. At 12-months follow-up, the most common symptom was still fatigue (66.7%), palpitations (45.5%), orthostatic tachycardia, and orthostatic intolerance (42.4%). All patients were managed with increased salt and fluid intake, lower compression stockings and rehabilitation. Fifty five percent of patients were treated with Enhanced External Counter Pulsation (EECP), 42% were treated with beta blockers, 18% with fludrocortisone, 15% with midodrine, and 15% with Pyridostigmine. At 1 year follow-up, 33% of patients reported improvement in their symptoms, 33% reported worsening of symptoms, 24% reported stable symptoms, and 9% had resolution. Conclusion(s): PASC POTS patients continue to experience adverse symptoms even at one year. Physical therapy and rehabilitation and pharmacological therapy appear improve symptoms in a minority of patients.Copyright © 2023
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Methods: We reviewed reports of post COVID dysautonomia and management strategies pursued to understand best practices and provide a primer for clinicians to guide patient management. We reviewed the literature for case reports of post COVID dysautonomia and compiled the cases into a table. Treatment approaches and outcomes were aggregated into an algorithm for management guidance. Results: Ten studies regarding post COVID dysautonomia were reviewed. Strategies included conservative approaches such as fluids, salt consumption, compression stockings, abdominal binders and head of bed elevation as well as strength building such as yoga, resistance exercise, and recumbent physical activity. Moreover, psychosocial support including cognitive behavioral therapy, biofeedback, and support groups were emphasized along with pharmacologic remedies such as midodrine, ivabradine, fludrocortisone, intravenous immunoglobulin, gabapentin, and topical lidocaine in additoin to interventions such as enhanced external counterpulsation. Primary and secondary outcomes included self-report surveys, autonomic laboratory testing, hand grip strength and heart rate variability. Background: Growing numbers of cases of dysautonomia after acute COVID-19 infection are being reported involving previously healthy patients. This post-COVID dysautonomia is predominantly characterized by lingering neurologic and cardiovascular dysfunction including tachycardia, orthostatic intolerance, migraine, exercise intolerance, fatigue, and cognitive impairment. Anxiety, insomnia, and uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic present additional risk factors for sympathetic overdrive and deconditioning. Best management strategies and practice guidelines for this patient population remains unknown. Conclusion: Our review suggests consideration of an integrative, multimodal treatment approach involving physical activity, mental well-being, nutrition, stress management, and medication. These primarily facilitate management of dysautonomia, but rarely lead to complete symptom resolution. Despite the uncertainty associated with post-COVID dysautonomia, patient validation, education, and lifestyle approaches provide the cornerstone of management. Since post-COVID dysautonomia will comprise an increasing number of care consultations, clinician awareness, prompt diagnosis, and personalized management are essential.
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Background: Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is characterized by hypoxemia and non-hydrostatic pulmonary edema. While ARDS is associated with a high mortality rate, its conjunction with cardiogenic shock (CS) can lead to devastating outcomes. ARDS is managed via lung protective ventilation with low tidal volumes and positive end expiratory pressures. Prone positioning has emerged as a supplementary strategy with beneficial effects on gas exchange, respiratory mechanics, and hemodynamics. Our case underlines the feasibility of intra-aortic balloon pump counterpulsation (IABP) with concurrent prone positioning in a patient with ARDS and CS. Case: 71-year-old male with history of coronary artery disease, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and chronic kidney disease, presented to the emergency department with new onset chest pain. EKG showed ST-segment elevations in leads V1-V2 consistent with acute anterior wall myocardial infarction. Patient underwent percutaneous coronary intervention to the left anterior descending artery.Due to worsening hemodynamics and CS, it was decided to place a left axillary IABP. Hospital course was further complicated by acute pulmonary edema and ARDS requiring emergent intubation and mechanical ventilation. Patient was also started on renal replacement therapy given progression of renal failure. Decision-making: Given the onset of ARDS, the patient was placed in prone position for 12-16 hours/day for 5 days. There was no special technique required during proning, other than additional staff to ensure IABP stability. Gradual improvement in hemodynamics was attained, including an increase in cardiac index from 2.1 to 3.4, and a decrease in pulmonary vascular congestion. Conclusion: With the emergence of COVID-19 pandemic, the incidence of ARDS has increased significantly, with simultaneous occurrence of CS in some of these patients. Prone positioning has become one of the main therapeutic modalities in the management of ARDS. Our case highlights the feasibility of axillary IABP while implementing prone positioning in patients with concomitant ARDS and CS.
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Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) showed biventricular failure with ejection fraction (EF) 20% and an intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) was placed for COVID-19 associated myocarditis prior to a tertiary care facility transfer. B Introduction: b Two young adults with COVID-19 associated myocarditis and refractory cardiogenic shock, without respiratory failure were successfully treated with venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA ECMO) and percutaneous left ventricular assist device (pLVAD), or "ECPELLA", and glucocorticoids. [Extracted from the article] Copyright of Critical Care Medicine is the property of Lippincott Williams & Wilkins and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full . (Copyright applies to all s.)
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Objectives: The aim of the study was to assess the effects of the enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP) therapy as a rehabilitation method in patients with ischemic chronic heart failure (CHF) after COVID- 19. Methods: 54 (n=54) stable symptomatic CHF (NYHA, functional class I-II;35%≤LVEF≤50%) subjects (44 male and 10 female;mean age 61±9,8) with prior anamnesis of CAD, at least one myocardial infarction got the exacerbation of CHF after COVID-19 episode. They were randomized in a 2:1 manner into either 35 1-hour 250-300 mm Hg sessions of EECP (n=36;30 male, 6 female) or Sham-EECP (n=18;14 male, 4 female). All subjects had been received optimal CHF and CAD drug therapy. At baseline, a month and half a year after EECP course every subject was examined with echocardiography and 6-minute walk test. Results: All 36 active EECP treatment group subjects improved by at least 1 NYHA class, 66% of them had no heart failure symptoms post treatment (p<0.01). 84% of treatment group pts. had sustained NYHA class improvement at half a year follow-up (p<0.01), compared with baseline. There was significant difference between LVEF 44±6,5% at baseline vs post-EECP LVEF 50±4,6% (p<0.01) in active EECP treatment group subjects. At the same time there were no significant changes of NYHA class and LVEF in Sham-EECP subjects. No one subject dies after half a year of follow up. Conclusions: Enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP) therapy sustainably improves NYHA functional class and LVEF in patients with ischemic CHF exacerbation after COVID-19.
ABSTRACT
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the virus responsible for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. As patients recover from COVID-19, some continue to report persisting symptoms weeks to months after acute infection. These effects have been referred to as post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC). We report the case of a 38-year-old woman suffering from PASC symptoms following acute COVID-19 in October 2020. During her acute infection phase, she had a home recovery and reported her predominant symptoms as fatigue, headaches, body pain, and shortness of breath. After most of her symptoms were resolved, she continued to have periodic episodes of fatigue and headaches, along with random shortness of breath while at rest and during activities for months beyond the acute phase of the illness. She also noted the presence of "brain fog," as if lacking the same clarity that she had prior to her illness. These symptoms persisted for three months before the patient underwent enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP) therapy in one-hour sessions, three times per week. This therapy was chosen based on the mechanism of action of EECP benefiting patients with ischemic cardiovascular diseases. After one week, her "brain fog" had improved, with shortness of breath improving after 1.5 weeks. The patient reported returning to pre-COVID health and fitness after approximately five weeks of EECP treatment. To our knowledge, this is the first case of using EECP for post-COVID shortness of breath, fatigue, and "brain fog."