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. 2020 Dec:109:1-3.
doi: 10.1016/j.physio.2020.06.002. Epub 2020 Jun 27.

Clinical course and physiotherapy intervention in 9 patients with COVID-19

Audrey Jia Yi Lee  1 , Chloe Lau Ha Chung  2 , Barnaby Edward Young  3 , Li Min Ling  4 , Benjamin Choon Heng Ho  5 , Ser Hon Puah  5 , Saboor Rahman Iqbal  2 , Geak Poh Tan  5
Affiliations

Clinical course and physiotherapy intervention in 9 patients with COVID-19

Audrey Jia Yi Lee et al. Physiotherapy. 2020 Dec.

Abstract

Since the outbreak of the 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19), the role of physiotherapy for patients with COVID-19 infection has been highlighted by various international guidelines. Despite that, clinical information regarding the rehabilitation of patients with COVID-19 infection remains limited. In this case series, we provide a novel insight into the physiotherapy management in patients infected with COVID-19 in Singapore. The main findings are: (1) Respiratory physiotherapy interventions were not indicated in the majority of the patients with COVID-19 in this case series; (2) During rehabilitation, exertional or position-related desaturation is a common feature observed in critically ill patients with COVID-19 infection locally. This clinical phenomenon of exertional or positional-related desaturation has significantly slowed down the progression of rehabilitation in our patients. As such, it can potentially result in a significant burden on healthcare resources to provide rehabilitation to these patients. Based on these findings, we have highlighted several recommendations for the provision of rehabilitation in patients who are critically ill with COVID-19.

Keywords: COVID-19; Critical care; Critical illness; Early mobilisation; Intensive care; Rehabilitation.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Clinical course and rehabilitation milestones of the nine patients with COVID-19 who were referred to Physiotherapy. The rehabilitation milestone indicated presents the earliest time-point in which it was achieved. If multiple milestones were achieved on the same day, the highest level of rehabilitation milestone was recorded.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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