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Maintaining Mobility in a Patient Who Is Pregnant and Has COVID-19 Requiring Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation: A Case Report
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Maintaining Mobility in a Patient Who Is Pregnant and Has COVID-19 Requiring Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation: A Case Report

Alex Mark, Jennifer P. Crumley, Kristina L. Rudolph, Kevin Doerschug and Anna Krupp
Physical therapy, Vol.101(1), pp.1-7
01/01/2021
DOI: 10.1093/ptj/pzaa189
PMCID: PMC7665742
PMID: 33395476
url
https://doi.org/10.1093/ptj/pzaa189View
Published (Version of record) Open Access

Abstract

Objective Mobilization while receiving life support interventions, including mechanical ventilation and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), is a recommended intensive care unit (ICU) intervention to maintain physical function. The purpose of this case report is to describe a novel approach to implementing early mobility interventions for a patient who was pregnant and receiving ECMO while continuing necessary infectious disease precautions because of diagnosed coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19). Methods A 27-year-old woman who was pregnant was admitted to the ICU with COVID-19 and rapidly developed acute respiratory failure requiring 9 days of ECMO support. After a physical therapist consultation, the patient was standing at the bedside by hospital day 5 and ambulating by hospital day 9. Results The patient safely participated in physical therapy during ICU admission and was discharged to home with outpatient physical therapy follow-up after 14 days of hospitalization. Conclusion Early mobility is feasible during ECMO with COVID-19, and active participation in physical therapy, including in-room ambulation, may facilitate discharge to home. Innovative strategies to facilitate routine activity in a patient who is critically ill with COVID-19 require an established and highly trained team with a focus on maintaining function. Impact Early mobility while intubated, on ECMO, and infected with COVID-19 is feasible while adhering to infectious disease precautions when it is performed by an experienced interdisciplinary team.
Life Sciences & Biomedicine Orthopedics Rehabilitation Science & Technology

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