ABSTRACT
The COVID-19 pandemic has dealt a devastating blow to healthcare systems globally. Approximately 3.2% of patients infected with COVID-19 require invasive ventilation during the course of the illness. Within this population, 25% of patients are affected with neurological manifestations. Among those who are affected by severe neurological manifestations, some may have acute cerebrovascular complications (5%), impaired consciousness (15%) or exhibit skeletal muscle hypokinesis (20%). The cause of the severe cognitive impairment and hypokinesis is unknown at this time. Potential causes include COVID-19 viral encephalopathy, toxic metabolic encephalopathy, post-intensive care unit syndrome and cerebrovascular pathology. We present a case of a 60 year old patient who sustained a prolonged hospitalization with COVID-19, had a cerebrovascular event and developed a persistent unexplained encephalopathy along with a hypokinetic state. He was treated successfully with modafinil and carbidopa/levodopa showing clinical improvement within 3-7 days and ultimately was able to successfully discharge home.
Subject(s)
Brain Diseases , COVID-19 , Carbidopa/administration & dosage , Hypokinesia , Ischemic Stroke , Levodopa/administration & dosage , Modafinil/administration & dosage , Rehabilitation/methods , SARS-CoV-2/isolation & purification , Blood Coagulation , Brain Diseases/physiopathology , Brain Diseases/virology , COVID-19/blood , COVID-19/complications , COVID-19/physiopathology , COVID-19/therapy , Central Nervous System Stimulants/administration & dosage , Cognitive Dysfunction/diagnosis , Cognitive Dysfunction/etiology , Critical Care/methods , Drug Combinations , Humans , Hypokinesia/diagnosis , Hypokinesia/etiology , Hypokinesia/therapy , Ischemic Stroke/diagnostic imaging , Ischemic Stroke/etiology , Ischemic Stroke/physiopathology , Ischemic Stroke/therapy , Magnetic Resonance Imaging/methods , Male , Middle Aged , Respiration, Artificial/methods , Severity of Illness Index , Treatment Outcome , Ventilator Weaning/methodsABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Acute heart failure (AHF) is a leading cause of hospitalization and readmission in the US. The present study evaluated maximum diuresis while minimizing electrolyte imbalances, hemodynamic instability, and kidney dysfunction, to achieve a euvolemic state safely in a shorter period of time. METHODS AND RESULTS: A protocol of combined therapy with furosemide, metolazone, and spironolactone, with or without tolvaptan and acetazolamide, was used in 17 hospitalized patients with AHF. The mean number of days on combination diuretic protocol was 3.8 days. The mean daily fluid balance was 3.0±2.1 L negative. The mean daily urine output (UOP) was 4.1±2.0 L (range 1.8-10.5 L). There were minimal fluctuations in serum electrolyte levels and serum creatinine over the duration of diuretic therapy. There was no statistically significant change in patients' creatinine from immediately prior to therapy to the last day of therapy, with a mean increase in creatinine of 0.14 mg/dL (95% CI -0.03, +0.30, p=0.10). CONCLUSION: Our strategy of treating AHF by achieving high UOP, while maintaining stable electrolytes and creatinine in a short period to euvolemic state, is safe.
