Introduction: At the end of the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, more than 78 million known survivors were recorded. The long-term pulmonary sequelae of COVID-19 remain unknown. Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of a post-COVID follow-up service to

Objectives. Patients with "medically unexplained symptoms" or "MUS" experience subjectively compelling and distressing somatic symptoms that are not fully explained by underlying physical pathology. Effective treatment of these patients has been impeded by multiple barriers. Problems with patient engagement have been highlighted in the clinical and research literature, yet few exploratory studies have been conducted in this area. This research explores how experienced psychological therapists in a specialist MUS service work to engage these patients.Design. An in-depth qualitative study was conducted to explore the process of engaging patients with MUS in psychological therapy.Method. Semi-structured depth interviews were conducted with psychological therapists who work with complex patients with MUS. The therapists interviewed were recruited from an NHS primary care psychological therapy service that specializes in working with this patient group. Data were analysed using grounded theory to develop a model of this process.Results. The analysis identified how multiple interacting layers of systemic, interpersonal, and intrapsychic disconnections impede engagement. The research introduces a new theoretical framework 'Negotiating disconnection' that conceptualizes the process of engagement in terms of a series of stages, namely 'Drawing in' (negotiating systemic disconnection), 'Meeting' (connecting in the disconnection), and 'Nudging Forward' (cultivating new connections), and illustrates how these are negotiated by therapists.Conclusions. The model shows that it is critical for therapists to collaborate closely with GPs to engage these patients while also highlighting barriers to doing this, reflecting the complexities of organizational and cultural change. Clinically, the model illustrates the importance of adopting a flexible, pluralistic, and integrative approach that is personcentred and process-led. Doctors and therapists should embrace a holistic, biopsychosocial stance towards MUS and be sensitively attuned to its complex phenomenology. Practitioner pointsTo engage patients with MUS psychological therapists should be person-centred and process-led rather than theory-or protocol-led. A pluralistic and integrative mindset facilitates this by enhancing clinicians' flexibility.A multidisciplinary approach is essential. Clinicians should embrace a biopsychosocial stance towards MUS and work closely with medical colleagues to help them do the same. Structural and cultural change is needed to tackle this issue effectively.

Introduction CONTACT is a national multidisciplinary study assessing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic upon diagnostic and treatment pathways among patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Methods The treatment of consecutive patients with newly diagnosed PDAC from a pre-COVID-19 pandemic cohort (07/01/2019-03/03/2019) were compared to a cohort diagnosed during the first wave of the UK pandemic (‘COVID’ cohort, 16/03/2020-10/05/2020), with 12-month follow-up. Results Among 984 patients (pre-COVID: n = 483, COVID: n = 501), the COVID cohort was less likely to receive staging investigations other than CT scanning (29.5% vs. 37.2%, p = 0.010). Among patients treated with curative intent, there was a reduction in the proportion of patients recommended surgery (54.5% vs. 76.6%, p = 0.001) and increase in the proportion recommended upfront chemotherapy (45.5% vs. 23.4%, p = 0.002). Among patients on a non-curative pathway, fewer patients were recommended (47.4% vs. 57.3%, p = 0.004) or received palliative anti-cancer therapy (20.5% vs. 26.5%, p = 0.045). Ultimately, fewer patients in the COVID cohort underwent surgical resection (6.4% vs. 9.3%, p = 0.036), whilst more patients received no anti-cancer treatment (69.3% vs. 59.2% p = 0.009). Despite these differences, there was no difference in median overall survival between the COVID and pre-COVID cohorts, (3.5 (IQR 2.8–4.1) vs. 4.4 (IQR 3.6–5.2) months, p = 0.093). Conclusion Pathways for patients with PDAC were significantly disrupted during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, with fewer patients receiving standard treatments. However, no significant impact on survival was discerned.

As the COVID-19 pandemic progresses neurological complications are increasingly being reported. Posterior reversible encephalopathic syndrome (PRES) is a clinico-radiological syndrome characterised by headache, visual loss, encephalopathy and seizures, and the development of vasogenic white matter lesions in a classically parieto-occipital distribution. The pathophysiology of PRES is incompletely understood, but both hyperperfusion secondary to hypertension, and endothelial dysfunction leading to vasogenic oedema have been implicated. Here we present a case series of 2 hospitalised COVID-19 patients with markedly different disease severity, both of whom developed PRES. Patient 1 presented with confusion and headache without significant systemic features, on a background of known hypertension. Patient 1 had a single generalised seizure and was managed with levetiracetam and antihypertensives, and showed complete clinical recovery. In contrast, patient 2 presented with respiratory distress, metabolic disturbance and encephalopathy requiring critical care admission. Patient 2 had a protracted admission, developing marked visual disturbance and generalised seizures requiring multiple agents. In both cases initial CT/MRI showed characteristic posterior PRES-like leukoencephalopathy with resolution on follow-up imaging, and CSF biochemistry, cytology and virology were normal. This case series highlights the potential for neurological complications in COVID-19 patients across the spectrum of disease severity.Philip.hayton@nhs.net