CARE OF A PATIENT WITH DYSPNOEA IN COVID-19

Abstract

The purpose. In this paper we deal with the issue of dyspnoea. To deal with dyspnoea, it is necessary to determine the causes of dyspnoea, assess subjective and objective symptoms and apply adequate treatment.
Methods. The main qualitative method of our research was a case report. We focused on the case of a patient with COVID-19 disease with extensive bilateral pneumonia. Dyspnoea was assessed by the Borgʹs scale of dyspnoea. Borgʹs dyspnoea scale allows you to quantify the intensity of dyspnoea during daily activities, physical activity, and it can help assess its impact on a patient’s functional status. Results and discussion. In this case report, we address the case of a 29-year-old patient with COVID-19 extensive bilateral pneumonia. The patient was hospitalized in the Covid ward for 10 days. On the first days of hospitalization dyspnoea according to the Borg’s scale reached grade 5 – severe dyspnoea, SpO2 in the blood was 85 %. The patient was given oxygen therapy, drug treatment. We monitored her vital signs and laboratory parameters regularly.
The treatment also included rehabilitation and breathing exercises, psychological and spiritual assistance. The patient for bed rest was addicted to daily activities. Dyspnoea was alleviated on the 7th to 10th day of hospitalization, when her oxygen supply was gradually reduced and the patient’s load tolerance increased. According to the literature, the health improves to the 2nd-3rd week.
Conclusions. In this paper we presented nursing care for a patient with COVID-19 pneumonia and intervention to manage dyspnoea. Dyspnoea was very stressful for the patient and required hospitalization therapeutic and nursing interventions. Interdisciplinary cooperation was an important factor in the effectiveness of nursing interventions.