Algorithmic approach in the management of COVID‑19 patients with residual pulmonary symptoms

Abstract

Coronavirus‑19 emerged about 3 years ago and has proven to be a devastating disease, crippling communities worldwide and accounting for more than 6.31 million deaths. The true disease burden of COVID‑19 will come to light in the upcoming years as we care for COVID‑19 survivors with post‑COVID‑19 syndrome (PCS) with residual long‑term symptoms affecting every organ system. Pulmonary fibrosis is the most severe long‑term pulmonary manifestation of PCS, and due to the high incidence of COVID‑19 infection rates, PCS‑pulmonary fibrosis has the potential of becoming the next large‑scale respiratory health crisis. To confront the potentially devastating effects of emerging post‑COVID‑19 pulmonary fibrosis, dedicated research efforts are needed to focus on surveillance, understanding pathophysiologic mechanisms, and most importantly, an algorithmic approach to managing these patients. We have performed a thorough literature review on post‑COVID‑19 pulmonary symptoms/imaging/physiology and present an algorithmic approach to these patients based on the best available data and extensive clinical experience.