Quality of life of a patient with persistent complications after SARS-CoV-2 infection requiring urgent surgical intervention – endarterectomy with emergency angioplasty of an inflamed, bleeding Right Internal Carotid Artery (RICA) using the Trans-Carotid Artery Revascularization (TCAR)

SUMMARY The purpose of this study was to determine the quality of life of a patient with persistent complications of SARS-CoV-2 infection requiring urgens surgical intervention – endarterectomy with emergency angioplasty of an inflamed, bleeding Right Internal Carotid Artery (RICA) by direct access via Right Common Carotid Artery (RCCA), known as Transcarotid Artery Revascularization (TCAR). A patient in her 60s was infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus and contracted COVID-19 in March 2022, as confirmed by RT PCR antigen test. The infection was followed by short- and long-term complications, many of which can be linked to COVID. These include significant weakness persisting for months after the illness, rapid weight loss of 25 kg, sleep disturbances, chronic fatigue, severe dizziness, onset of diabetes, decrease dimmunity with increased periodontal inflammation (including formation of a periapical abscess of a molar tooth) and secondary suppuration of the submandibular lymphnodes, one of which lying jacent to the right internal carotidartery (RICA). This accumulation of symptoms led the patient to seek medical and neuropsychological help. Test ingusing the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) confirmed depression, with vegetative disorders being the most predominant. Eight months after undergoing COVID-19, the patient suffered a Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA). The accumulation of diseases (diabetes mellitus, stage III hypertension and TIA) had a dramatic impact on the patient's health, including life-threatening conditions.A vascular surgeon consulted the patient advised immediate surgical treatment: carotid endarterectomy. The urgency of the situation was exacerbated by bleeding during the operation from the operated, secondarily inflamed wall of the RICA (lying adjacent to the suppurated submandibular node). This prompted an emergency decision for an endovascular procedure: the implantation of a stent covered with water-proof material (peripheral stent graft). This was made by a direct access via puncture of the common carotid artery (RCCA) below the endarterectomy level (TCAR). The SF-36 questionnaire was chosen to measure health-related quality of life (HRQOL).The SF-36 results are presented in such a way that higher scores correspond to fewer complaints, indicating better health and higher quality of life. Before revascularization, the patient's HRQOL was found to be lower, which was related to the negative impact of long COVID, while after the procedure, the quality of life gradually improved in subsequent surveys. A significant difference was found in physical function, with a mean score of 66.0 (p<0.001) compared to a score of 94.9 (±9.4) for 100 age-matched health subjects. A similar result was found in the physical role (p < 0.001). The patient's overall quality of life score was 331.0 compared to a score of 578.0 (±111.9) for age-matched normal healthy people. Better quality of life in patients with long COVID is an important therapeutic goal that can be achieved through comprehensive, multispecialty treatment for both physical and psychological conditions.