Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting Complicated by Post-operative
Coronavirus Infection -- Two Similar Presentations with Dissimilar
Outcomes
Abstract
Patients diagnosed with COVID-19 infection undergoing surgical
procedures have been reported to have increased post-operative
complications and mortality. These findings are important when
considering cardiac surgical procedures, specifically coronary artery
bypass grafting (CABG). This case series describes the clinical course
following a CABG procedure in two patients that went on to develop
COVID-19 infection post-operatively, having previously tested negative.
We aim to illustrate the similarities in clinical presentation, but
differences in eventual outcomes for both patients and hypothesize the
reasons for the differences. Patients with comorbidities such as
advanced age, diabetes mellitus, obesity, hypertension, and COPD are
possibly at increased risk of adverse outcomes should they contract the
infection, and special care should be taken in this population. Early
institution of VV-ECMO may be beneficial, but further studies are needed
in this matter.