• Stefano Carda, Marco Invernizzi, Ganesh Bavikatte, Djamel Bensmaïl, Francesca Bianchi, Thierry Deltombe, Nathalie Draulans, Alberto Esquenazi, Gerard E Francisco, Raphaël Gross, Luis J Jacinto, Susana Moraleda Pérez, Michael W O'dell, Rajiv Reebye, Monica Verduzco-Gutierrez, Jörg Wissel, and Franco Molteni.
• Service of Neuropsychology and Neurorehabilitation, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV), Lausanne, Switzerland - stefano.carda@chuv.ch.
• Eur J Phys Rehabil Med. 2020 Aug 1; 56 (4): 515-524.

AbstractCOVID-19 pandemic is rapidly spreading all over the world, creating the risk for a healthcare collapse. While acute care and intensive care units are the main pillars of the early response to the disease, rehabilitative medicine should play an important part in allowing COVID-19 survivors to reduce disability and optimize the function of acute hospital setting. The aim of this study was to share the experience and the international perspective of different rehabilitation centers, treating COVID-19 survivors. A group of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation specialists from eleven different countries in Europe and North America have shared their clinical experience in dealing with COVID-19 survivors and how they have managed the re-organization of rehabilitation services. In our experience the most important sequelae of severe and critical forms of COVID-19 are: 1) respiratory; 2) cognitive, central and peripheral nervous system; 3) deconditioning; 4) critical illness related myopathy and neuropathy; 5) dysphagia; 6) joint stiffness and pain; 7) psychiatric. We analyze all these consequences and propose some practical treatment options, based on current evidence and clinical experience, as well as several suggestions for management of rehabilitation services and patients with suspected or confirmed infection by SARS-CoV-2. COVID-19 survivors have some specific rehabilitation needs. Experience from other centers may help colleagues in organizing their services and providing better care to their patients.

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