Post-Covid Lung Transplantation: A Novel Patient Population for Inpatient Rehabilitation

Tuesday, November 8, 2022

12:45 PM – 2:00 PM

Presenter(s)

Leslie Rydberg, MD

Associate Professor of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Shirley Ryan AbilityLab/Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Chicago, Illinois, United States

Slides
Kian Nassiri, D.O.

Resident Physician
McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern/Shirley Ryan AbilityLab
Chicago, Illinois, United States
CV

Caroline M. Vail, DO

Resident Physician
Shirley Ryan AbilityLab
Chicago, Illinois, United States
Alexandra S. Jensen, DO

Resident Physician
McGaw Medical Center Northwestern/Shirley Ryan AbilityLab
Chicago, Illinois, United States
Erin A. Walaszek, PT, DPT

Physical Therapist
Shirley Ryan Ability Lab
Chicago, Illinois, United States
Matthew C. Oswald, MD

Assistant Professor
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine / Shirley Ryan AbilityLab
Chicago, Illinois, United States
Daniel A. Goodman, MD, MS

Attending Physician
Shirley Ryan AbilityLab
Chicago, Illinois, United States
Kyle Fahey, PT, DPT

Rehab Supervisor
Ascension Resurrection
Chicago, Illinois, United States

Patients with COVID-19, who underwent a bilateral orthotopic lung transplant(BOLT) have a unique complexity and require individualized, comprehensive, collaborative care in the post-transplant and post-acute care phases in order to fully optimize their care to optimize function with the goal of transition to home. This case series highlights the important role of inpatient rehabilitation for patients with BOLT due to COVID-19. We aim to describe the rehabilitation of this new patient population, identify common and potential medical complications in the postoperative period that impact the recovery process, and present the benefit of comprehensive interdisciplinary health and rehabilitation care (involving physicians, physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, pharmacists, nutritionists, respiratory therapists, and clinical psychologists) for the management of these fragile patients.

Learning Objectives:

Delineate the demographics/medical indications of patients undergoing inpatient rehabilitation after bilateral lung transplant and contrast key differences from those who underwent bilateral lung transplant after severe COVID-19 respiratory failure.
Describe the details of patient evaluation and preparation in the lung transplant patient population for admission to acute inpatient rehabilitation
Understand the typical medical management and coordination of care needs for patients following lung transplant secondary to COVID-19 respiratory failure.
Identify the benefits of inpatient rehabilitation on the functional status of patients with severe covid who have undergone lung transplant.