Severe COVID-19 acute respiratory distress syndrome in an adult with single-ventricle physiology: a case report

Abstract

Abstract Background COVID-19 can induce acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). In patients with congenital heart disease, established treatment strategies are often limited due to their unique cardiovascular anatomy and passive pulmonary perfusion. Case presentation We report the first case of an adult with single-ventricle physiology and bidirectional cavopulmonary shunt who suffered from severe COVID-19 ARDS. Treatment strategies were successfully adopted, and pulmonary vascular resistance was reduced, both medically and through prone positioning, leading to a favorable outcome. Conclusion ARDS treatment strategies including ventilatory settings, prone positioning therapy and cannulation techniques for extracorporeal oxygenation must be adopted carefully considering the passive venous return in patients with single-ventricle physiology.

Keywords

• Tricuspid valve atresia
• Transposition of the great arteries
• SARS-CoV-2
• Perioperative
• Bidirectional cavopulmonary shunt