Silent hypoxia: a frequently overlooked clinical entity in patients with COVID-19.
Atanu ChandraUddalak ChakrabortyJyotirmoy PalParthasarathi KarmakarPublished in: BMJ case reports (2020)
COVID-19 caused by SARS-CoV-2 may present with a wide spectrum of symptoms ranging from mild upper respiratory tract infection like illness to severe pneumonia and death. Patients may have severe hypoxaemia without proportional features of respiratory distress, also known as 'silent' or 'apathetic' hypoxia. We present a case of a 56-year-old man with COVID-19 who presented to the fever clinic of our institution with fever and cough without any respiratory distress but low oxygen saturation. The patient deteriorated over the next 2 days but eventually recovered of his illness in due course of time. This case demonstrates 'silent hypoxia' as a possible presentation in COVID-19 and emphasises the importance of meticulous clinical examination including oxygen saturation measurements in suspected or confirmed patients.
Keyphrases
- sars cov
- coronavirus disease
- end stage renal disease
- respiratory tract
- newly diagnosed
- ejection fraction
- chronic kidney disease
- endothelial cells
- respiratory syndrome coronavirus
- peritoneal dialysis
- case report
- pulmonary embolism
- intensive care unit
- physical activity
- patient reported
- acute respiratory distress syndrome
- mechanical ventilation