Physical Rehabilitation Before and After Lung Transplantation for COVID-19 ARDS: A Case Report

Abstract

Purpose: To describe the functional trajectory and physical rehabilitation of an individual who underwent lung transplantation for COVID-19 acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Client Description: A previously healthy 60-year-old man admitted to critical care pre-transplantation and followed six months post-transplant. Intervention: Physical rehabilitation in the critical care, acute ward and in-patient rehabilitation settings. Measures and Outcome: Despite a successful surgery, a long and complex acute care admission contributed to a slow and variable functional recovery. Significant functional limitations and physical frailty were present in the early post-transplant period. Implications: Little is known of the effects of COVID-19 superimposed upon lung transplantation on muscle function, exercise capacity, and physical activity. Future research should include case series to further understand the functional deficits and trajectory of recovery in this emerging clinical population. Standard core outcome measures should be identified for this population to enable synthesis of findings and inform short- and long-term rehabilitation strategies.