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Collateral Damage of COVID-19 Pandemic: Delayed Medical Care
  • Saqib Masroor
Saqib Masroor
University of Toledo Medical Center

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

Author Profile

Abstract

During the COVID-19 pandemic, ER visits have drastically decreased for non-COVID conditions such as appendicitis, heart attack and stroke. Patients may be avoiding seeking medical attention for fear of catching the deadly condition or as an unintended consequence of stay-at-home orders. This delay in seeking care can lead to increased morbidity and mortality, which has not been figured in the assessment of the extent of damage caused by this pandemic. This case illustrates an example of “collateral damage” caused by COVID-19 pandemic. What would have been a standard STEMI treated with timely and successful stenting of a dominant right coronary artery occlusion, became a much more dangerous post-infarction VSD; all because of a 2-day delay in seeking medical attention by an unsuspecting patient.
26 Apr 2020Submitted to Journal of Cardiac Surgery
28 Apr 2020Submission Checks Completed
28 Apr 2020Assigned to Editor
28 Apr 2020Reviewer(s) Assigned
05 May 2020Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
05 May 2020Editorial Decision: Accept