Browsing by Author "Singh, Nevadna"

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    Early sequelae of post COVID-19 lung disease in patients who were mechanically ventilated for severe COVID-19 pneumonia
    (2023) Singh, Nevadna; Van Zyl-Smit, Richard
    Introduction: COVID-19 resulted in an unprecedented worldwide spike in hospital and ICU admissions; predominantly for adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Survival rates for patients requiring mechanical ventilation in Cape Town during the waves driven by the ancestral strain and beta variant were approximately 30% during the first 3 waves of the pandemic. However, post-ICU admission sequelae and recovery trajectory in sub-Saharan Africa remain unknown. Methods: We systematically evaluated a cohort of COVID-19 ICU survivors at three months following hospital discharge. A retrospective single-centre study enrolled all COVID-19 pneumonia patients who were admitted to ICU for mechanical ventilation and followed up at the post-COVID-19 Lung Disease Clinic between 1 July 2020 and 30 December 2021. Results: A total of 26 patients were evaluated at 3 months after discharge from hospital following mechanical ventilation: 53% were male and 81% had at least one co-morbidity. Diabetes and hypertension were present in 42% and 54% of patients respectively. Persistent dyspnoea (89%) and fatigue (54%) were the most common post-COVID-19 symptoms. Median FEV1 and FVC were 73% (IQR 65-83) and 71% (IQR 61-77) of predicted values respectively, whilst median DLCO was 59% (IQR 41- 70) of predicted values. Abnormalities were confirmed in all patients (24/26) who underwent high resolution computer tomography (HRCT) of the chest, with ground glass opacities (46%) and interstitial thickening (58%) being most common. No significant risk factors for post-COVID-19 impairment were identified. Conclusion: At 3 months after hospitalization, patients who received mechanical ventilation for COVID-19 pneumonia frequently reported ongoing symptoms. Lung function was moderately impaired with a disproportionate reduction in DLCO, and radiographic abnormalities were common. Long term follow up is required to determine the natural history post severe-COVID-19 lung disease.
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    Outcomes of patients undergoing lung resection for drug-resistant TB and the prognostic significance of pre-operative positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) in predicting treatment failure
    (2020) Singh, Nevadna; Calligaro, Gregory L; Dheda, Keertan
    Background: Even with newer and repurposed anti-TB drugs almost a third of patients with XDR-TB have unfavourable outcomes. In patients with localised disease and adequate pulmonary reserve, surgery is an important adjunctive treatment. However, there are no outcome data from TB endemic countries, and the prognostic significance of pre-operative PET-CT findings remains unknown. Objectives: To report outcomes for resectional surgery in our setting, and to study whether PET activity outside of the resection influences treatment outcomes. Methods: A retrospective study of all XDR-TB patients undergoing surgery at Groote Schuur Hospital (GSH) between July 2010 and December 2016 was performed. PET-CT was performed in a subgroup. Patients were followed up to determine treatment outcomes at 24-months post- surgery. Treatment success and failure, including all-cause mortality, was determined. Results: In total, 35 patients underwent surgery. The mean age was 36, 49% were male and 26% were HIV-infected. Pneumonectomy was the most common procedure (57%). Three patients (9%) were lost to follow up by 24 months. Total all-cause mortality was 34%. Treatment success was achieved in 15/35 (43%). In patients who underwent pre-operative PET-CT, there were no overall radiological features or PET parameters that were found to be prognostic for treatment failure. Conclusion: Resectional surgery for DR-TB in combination with chemotherapy resulted in cure in less than half of patients. Our data do not support the use of PET-CT to preselect patients or prognosticate about their outcome. These data inform clinical practice and underscore the need to support antibiotic stewardship strategies in TB-endemic settings.