International Journal of Recent Innovations in Medicine and Clinical Research
Official Publication of Innovative Education and Scientific Research Foundation
Official Publication of Innovative Education and Scientific Research Foundation
Print ISSN:-
Online ISSN:-2582-1075
Case Report
Author Details :
Volume : 3, Issue : 1, Year : 2021
Article Page : 44-48
https://doi.org/10.18231/j.ijrimcr.2021.005
Abstract
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is the 3rd coronavirus infection in two decades that was originally described in Asia, after severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS). As the COVID-19 pandemic spreads worldwide, intensive care unit (ICU) practitioners, hospital administrators, governments, policy makers, and researchers must prepare for a surge in critically ill patients. Physiotherapists, mainly respiratory physiotherapists, are among the healthcare professionals involved in the management and care of these patient’s population and play a key role in the non-invasive support management, postural changes, mobilization, as well as during the weaning from invasive mechanical ventilator support. To determine the recent research evidences for the importance of physiotherapist during COVID-19 pandemic. We report one cases of patients with COVID-19 from PSMMC hospital that illustrate the various indications for physical therapy, clinical challenges, potential treatment methods, and short-term response to treatment. Physical therapists actively treated patients with COVID-19 in the intensive care unit. Interventions ranged from patient education, to prone positioning, to early mobilization and respiratory therapy. Patients were often unstable with quick exacerbation of symptoms and a slow and fluctuant recovery. Additionally, many patients who were critically ill developed severe weakness, post-extubation dysphagia, weaning failure, or presented with anxiety or delirium. In this setting, physical therapy was challenging and required specialized and individualized therapeutic strategies. Most patients adopted the proposed treatment strategies, and lung function and physical strength improved over time. Physical therapists clearly have a role in the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on our experience we recommend that physical therapists routinely screen and assess patients for respiratory symptoms and exercise tolerance on acute wards. Treatment of patients who are critically ill should start as soon as possible to limit further sequelae. More research is needed for awake prone positioning and early breathing exercises as well as post-COVID rehabilitation.
Keywords: COVID-19, Physiotherapy, Physiotherapy Management, ICU.
How to cite : Alokayli W T, Alkhaldi S M, Role of ICU Physiotherapy in Covid-19: A Case Study. Int J Recent Innov Med Clin Res 2021;3(1):44-48
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