Anaesthetic concerns in post-COVID mucormycosis at a tertiary care hospital in India: An observational study

Area of Science:

• Anesthesiology
• Infectious Diseases
• Critical Care Medicine

Background:

• Post-COVID mucormycosis, particularly rhino-orbito-cerebral mucormycosis (ROCM), poses unique anesthetic challenges.
• Patients often present with severe comorbidities, including diabetes mellitus (96.6%) and difficult airways (60%).
• Complications like dyselectrolytemia, renal failure, multi-organ failure, and sepsis complicate anesthetic management.

Observation:

• This case series retrospectively analyzed 30 patients undergoing ROCM resection under general anesthesia.
• Data collection focused on perioperative complications, morbidity, and mortality.
• Difficult airway management and electrolyte imbalances were frequently observed.

Findings:

• Anesthetic management in post-COVID mucormycosis patients is highly challenging due to associated comorbidities.
• The study highlights the complexity of providing anesthesia in this vulnerable patient population.
• High prevalence of diabetes mellitus and difficult airways necessitates specialized anesthetic protocols.

Implications:

• Findings underscore the need for tailored anesthetic strategies for post-COVID mucormycosis patients.
• Improved perioperative care protocols can potentially reduce morbidity and mortality.
• Further research into anesthetic techniques for immunocompromised patients with fungal infections is warranted.