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Case report
Surviving COVID-19 and multiple complications post total laryngectomy
  1. Arpana Singh1,
  2. Abhishek Bhardwaj2,
  3. Nivedhan Ravichandran2 and
  4. Manu Malhotra2
  1. 1Microbiology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, India
  2. 2ENT, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, India
  1. Correspondence to Dr Abhishek Bhardwaj; abhi04stanley{at}gmail.com

Abstract

The clinical manifestation of novel COVID-19 is variable. Pre-existing carcinoma and other comorbidities have been associated with increased COVID-19-related morbidity and mortality. Surgical intervention for advanced laryngeal carcinoma in old age during the COVID-19 pandemic may pose multiple challenges to the patient and the treatment team. We report a case of a 67-year-old elderly man who developed SARS-CoV-2 infection on the 21st day following total laryngectomy and neck dissection. The postoperative period was complicated by sequential development of pulmonary embolism, neck infection, pharyngeal leak and COVID-19 which were managed successfully. No close contacts were positive on the reverse transcription-PCR test for SARS-CoV-2. The patient is in follow-up for the past 7 months without any recurrence or COVID-19-related morbidity. The successful recovery and no cross-infection may be attributed to early diagnosis, immediate intervention and properly implemented institutional infection control policy.

  • COVID-19
  • head and neck cancer

This article is made freely available for use in accordance with BMJ’s website terms and conditions for the duration of the covid-19 pandemic or until otherwise determined by BMJ. You may use, download and print the article for any lawful, non-commercial purpose (including text and data mining) provided that all copyright notices and trade marks are retained.

https://bmj.com/coronavirus/usage

https://doi.org/10.1136/bcr-2021-244277

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    Footnotes

    • Contributors AS and AB have contributed to manuscript writing, conception and idea for the manuscript. NR has contributed to data collection. MM has contributed to critical review and supervision of the manuscript.

    • Funding The authors have not declared a specific grant for this research from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.

    • Competing interests None declared.

    • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.