Collateral Damage in the Treatment of Patients with COVID-19.

Abstract

At the end of 2019, the COVID-19 pandemic developed, an infectious disease caused by a previously unidentified virus, which produced catastrophic consequences worldwide. Epidemiological reports showed that after acquiring the infection, most people experience mild illness without complications, however, some of the patients required hospitalization. Through the years 2020 to 2022, about 1800 patients were evaluated at our institution. Within the therapeutic arsenal, invasive and non-invasive mechanical ventilation and medications were used, included: antivirals, oxygen, sedatives, antibiotics, anticoagulants, gastric protectors, analgesics, lipid lowering drugs, antiarrhythmics, diuretics, antihypertensives, antipsychotics, analgesics, blood products, colchicine , steroids, fibrinolytics and antibodies against interleukin 6: tocilizumab, vitamins, among others. Similarly, venous and arterial catheters, endotracheal tubes, nasogastric, suction and drainage tubes, bladder catheters and prone positioning were used in patients with severe hypoxemia. The therapy was not exempt of complications. Our objective is to make awareness in the medical community of some the details of these events that occurred both in the hospitalization ward and in the COVID intensive care unit, not attributed to direct harmful effects of the virus, but to the consequences of the treatments applied.