Inpatient rehabilitation of a person with Guillain–Barré syndrome associated with COVID-19 infection: An expert interdisciplinary approach to a case study

ABSTRACT

Background and Purpose

Several cases of Guillain–Barré Syndrome (GBS) associated with a COVID-19 infection have been recently reported. Rehabilitation might be a key player in the recovery of these highly complex patients however, results are yet unknown. This case report aimed to describe the effects of an inpatient rehabilitation program, with an interdisciplinary team approach, in a patient with GBS in the context of a COVID-19 infection.

Case Description

A 58-year-old man with GBS after COVID-19 started an inpatient rehabilitation program focused on reducing dyspnea and fatigue symptoms; improving muscle strength, balance, aerobic and functional training; practicing activities of daily living and energy conservation techniques; swallowing training; emotional support and patient and family education about daily routines. An expert interdisciplinary team delivered the intervention, approximately 5 h/day, 5 days/week for 6 weeks.

Outcomes

Improvements were observed in dyspnea, fatigue, nocturnal ventilation, muscle strength, balance, walking capacity, functional status, and swallowing function.

Conclusion

This clinical case report illustrates the impact of a tailored and interdisciplinary rehabilitation program, on promoting recovery in multiple health domains of a patient with GBS associated with COVID-19 infection. Our experience might be useful to guide other inpatient rehabilitation programs to successfully manage these highly complex patients.

KEYWORDS:

• COVID-19
• Guillain–Barré syndrome
• rehabilitation
• interdisciplinary
• case report

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank our patient and all members of the team from Centro de Reabilitação do Norte involved in the rehabilitation program.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was partially funded by Fundo Europeu de Desenvolvimento Regional (FEDER) - Comissão Diretiva do Programa Operacional Regional do Centro, by Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia - FCT (UIDB/04501/2020) and by Programa Operacional Competitividade e Internacionalização (COMPETE), through COMPETE 2020 (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007628).