What terminal events are commonly associated with critically ill patients suffering from COVID-19?

The most relevant terminal events commonly associated with critically ill COVID-19 patients are coagulation dysfunction and multi-organ failure. COVID-19 can induce a hypercoagulable state, leading to various thrombotic complications such as deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. The disease is also known to cause significant respiratory distress, pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), and other complications that can result in multi-organ failure, affecting organs such as the kidneys, heart, and liver.

While septic shock can certainly occur in the context of severe COVID-19, particularly in association with secondary infections, the defining terminal events are more closely linked to the systemic effects of the viral infection on the body's coagulation processes and the potential for widespread organ dysfunction. Metabolic alkalosis, while it may be encountered in certain clinical scenarios, is not a hallmark of COVID-19-related complications and does not consistently represent a terminal event.

Thus, coagulation dysfunction and multi-organ failure are the critical events that underline the severe progression of the disease in critically ill patients. This understanding emphasizes the importance of monitoring and managing these specific complications in the treatment of COVID-19.