A suicide attempt on a left ventricular assist device patient during COVID-19 pandemic: can we only blame the virus? A case report

Marta Jiménez-Blanco Bravo; José Luis Zamorano Gómez; Susana Del Prado Díaz; Gonzalo Luis Alonso Salinas

doi:10.1093/ehjcr/ytab144

A suicide attempt on a left ventricular assist device patient during COVID-19 pandemic: can we only blame the virus? A case report

Eur Heart J Case Rep. 2021 May 12;5(5):ytab144. doi: 10.1093/ehjcr/ytab144. eCollection 2021 May.

Authors

Marta Jiménez-Blanco Bravo¹, José Luis Zamorano Gómez^{1

2}, Susana Del Prado Díaz¹, Gonzalo Luis Alonso Salinas¹

Affiliations

¹ Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, Carretera Colmenar Viejo, Km 9.1, Madrid 28034, Spain.
² CIBER in Cardiovascular Diseases (CIBERCV), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, C/ Monforte de Lemos 3-5, Madrid 28029, Spain.

Abstract

Background: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic has emerged as a new threat, not only to Health Care systems but also to citizen's freedom of movement in many developed countries.

Case summary: We report a suicidal attempt in a destination therapy left ventricular assist device patient, potentially triggered by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) lockdown, highlighting the importance of regular and long-term psychological support for this vulnerable population.

Discussion: The psychological consequences of this pandemic, particularly in chronically ill patients, are yet to be defined.

Keywords: COVID-19; Case report; Left ventricular assist device; SARS-CoV-2; Suicide attempt.

Publication types

Case Reports