Pulmonary hypertension following severe COVID-19: a case report

ABSTRACT

Persistence of symptoms or development of new symptoms, late in the course of COVID-19 puts a constant burden on our healthcare facilities. In its severe form, COVID-19 patient may present as acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), shock, and multiorgan failure and other immunological disharmony. With extensive parenchymal and vascular endothelial damage to lung vasculature, some patient may develop extensive fibrosis and pulmonary hypertension. Our patient a 60-year-old male, slightly overweight (BMI = 28.3) with history of IGT suddenly developed fever, sore throat and anosmia with myalgia. At 7th day of symptom his saturation fell down and patient was admitted in Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) for advance management. Initially patient was treated in COVID-19 ward, latter he was shifted to ICU as oxygen saturation was not maintained by HFNC. After a long battle of 56 days in ICU and 19 days stay in post COVID ward patient was discharged home with intermittent oxygen therapy only to develop pulmonary hypertension as a sequelae of post COVID syndrome. A holistic approach to management of post COVID syndrome is needed for such multisystem involvement of severe COVID patients.