Critical illness myopathy after COVID-19.
Int J Infect Dis
; 99: 276-278, 2020 Oct.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-693741
ABSTRACT
This paper describes a patient who developed diffuse and symmetrical muscle weakness after a long stay in the intensive care unit (ICU) due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The patient underwent a neurophysiological protocol, including nerve conduction studies, concentric needle electromyography (EMG) of the proximal and distal muscles, and direct muscle stimulation (DMS). Nerve conduction studies showed normal sensory conduction and low-amplitude compound muscle action potentials (CMAPs). EMG revealed signs of myopathy, which were more pronounced in the lower limbs. The post-DMS CMAP was absent in the quadriceps and of reduced amplitude in the tibialis anterior muscle. Based on these clinical and neurophysiological findings, a diagnosis of critical illness myopathy was made according to the current diagnostic criteria. Given the large number of patients with COVID-19 who require long ICU stays, many are very likely to develop ICU-acquired weakness, as did the patient described here. Health systems must plan to provide adequate access to rehabilitative facilities for both pulmonary and motor rehabilitative treatment after COVID-19.
Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Pneumonia, Viral
/
Critical Illness
/
Coronavirus Infections
/
Betacoronavirus
/
Muscular Diseases
Type of study:
Case report
/
Prognostic study
Topics:
Long Covid
Limits:
Female
/
Humans
/
Middle aged
Language:
English
Journal:
Int J Infect Dis
Journal subject:
Communicable Diseases
Year:
2020
Document Type:
Article
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