Medicina Pulmonar e Respiratória

Are we getting tunnel vision for Non-COVID patients amid the COVID-19 Pandemic?

Abstract

Waqar Haider Gaba*, Fatma Mahmoud, Shahad Hag, Asad Shah, Syed Athar and Tarek Fiad

Introduction: Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) is caused by a novel virus known as SARS-CoV-2. The COVID-19 pandemic started in December 2019 in the city of Wuhan, China and has now spread across the world affecting more than 11 million confirmed cases as of July 2020[1]. COVID-19 had a devastating impact on the economy, capacity as well as the efficiency of the health-care sector internationally. Our hospital has been designated as the tertiary care hospital to cater to all suspected or confirmed COVID-19 patients since March 2020. Materials and methods: We report three cases presenting to our hospital during the first few weeks of this transition with serious diagnoses and symptoms not consistent with COVID-19 infection. Results: All patients required specialist clinical input and cross-sectional imaging with imminent surgical intervention in two cases. The diagnostic work-up and management were unfortunately delayed due to the requirement of ruling out COVID-19 infection. Conclusion: Delayed management of patients with serious illnesses can lead to increased morbidity and even mortality with associated medicolegal consequences for the healthcare providers. Devising clinical and diagnostic pathways is essential in preventing avoidable delays and thereby mitigating the potential healthcare risks, particularly during any unfamiliar pandemic like COVID-19 in the future.