Covid-19 pandemic has shattered man-kind physically, mentally and financially. Corona viral pneumonia is proving disabling especially in population with comorbidities like heart diseases, diabetes, etc. Post covid complications are equally dreadful and sometimes prove more life threatening than covid pneumonia itself. Common post covid complications reported are lung fibrosis, heart rhythm abnormalities (arrhythmias), heart attacks and deep vein thrombosis.
Mr Shrikant Shukla 60 year old gentleman with high blood pressure contracted covid infection and was hospitalised at Alexis Multispeciality hospital. His blood oxygen levels were very low and CT scan of lungs showed severe lung infection (80% of the lung was diseased). Protocol based treatment was started immediately by Dr Nitin Wadaskar, Internal Medicine Specialist & Intensivist who managed him with advanced ventilator system at Alexis and helped him recover from the otherwise near fatal illness. He was discharged on day 10 of hospitalisation.
Soon after discharge Mr Shukla started experiencing chest pain and on evaluation it was found that he has suffered a massive heart attack (despite being on blood thinning medication). His coronary angiography showed very severe blockages in all three blood vessels that supply blood to the heart. In view of the recent covid infection and significant lung damage (post covid fibrosis) an open heart surgery was very high risk, and thus coronary angioplasty was planned by Dr Rishi.
Dr Lohiya says, “In Mr Shukla’s case we had to deal with multiple challenges like a very weak heart, damaged lungs, borderline kidney functions and multiple blockages in arteries and thus it was imperative to use minimum dye and keep the procedure as short as possible.”
The challenging task was swiftly completed with the expertise of Dr Lohiya and latest technology at Alexis. Within 48 hours of undergoing a multivessel coronary angioplasty Mr Shukla’s vital parameters normalised and he was discharged successfully.
Cardiac complications are known to complicate covid patients and many a times prove life threatening. Infection related stress, release of adrenergic hormones (catecholamine), increased tendency of blood clotting and low blood oxygen levels are possible complexities explained. Cardiologists recommend close monitoring of the heart function during and one month post covid infection to diagnose and treat cardiac complications and prevent fatalities.
Dr Tushar Gawad, Sr. Hospital Administrator at Alexis says, ““During the on-going Covid-19 pandemic, we have provided quality care to more than 500 Covid-19 patients with 95% recovery rate, thanks to our multidisciplinary clinical team including infectious disease specialist ably supported by our nursing and paramedical staff. With strict infection control policies and protocols in place, we continue to treat both Covid and non-Covid patients at our Hospital.”
Mr Shrikant Shukla says, “I am thankful to the entire team at Alexis who helped me recover from a disease. It’s the biggest gift of a new life to me”
Dr Wadaskar says, “Mr Shukla was referred to us from a local hospital in a bad condition with high CT score of lungs and low oxygen levels. Considering his age factor, treating him was a challenge and was only possible due to advanced ventilator support at Alexis.”
