The COVID-19 Patient in the Surgical Intensive Care Unit

Area of Science:

• Medicine
• Virology
• Critical Care

Background:

• Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a global pandemic.
• Non-critical care physicians may be redeployed to intensive care units.
• Effective management requires understanding COVID-19's systemic effects.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide an organ-based overview of COVID-19 pathology.
• To assist non-critical care physicians in managing COVID-19 patients.
• To highlight the systemic impact of COVID-19 beyond respiratory symptoms.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review of current literature.
• Organ-based approach to disease presentation.
• Focus on pathology in brain, heart, vasculature, lungs, gastrointestinal tract, and kidneys.

Main Results:

• COVID-19 affects multiple organ systems, not just the respiratory system.
• Pathology is observed in the brain, heart, vasculature, lungs, gastrointestinal tract, and kidneys.
• Understanding these systemic effects is crucial for patient management.

Conclusions:

• COVID-19 presents a complex, multi-systemic disease.
• An organ-based approach is valuable for understanding and managing COVID-19.
• Physicians require comprehensive knowledge of COVID-19's widespread effects.