Can Lung Ultrasound be Used to Screen for Pulmonary Embolism in Patients with SARS-CoV-2 Pneumonia?

  • Andrea Boccatonda Medicina d’Urgenza e Pronto Soccorso, Policlinico Sant’Orsola-Malpighi, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Bologna, Italy; Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine and Science of Aging, ‘G. D’Annunzio’ University, Chieti, Italy
  • Eugenia Ianniello Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
  • Damiano D'Ardes Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine and Science of Aging, ‘G. D’Annunzio’ University, Chieti, Italy
  • Giulio Cocco Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine and Science of Aging, ‘G. D’Annunzio’ University, Chieti, Italy
  • Fabrizio Giostra Medicina d’Urgenza e Pronto Soccorso, Policlinico Sant’Orsola-Malpighi, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
  • Claudio Borghi, Prof Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
  • Cosima Schiavone, Prof Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine and Science of Aging, ‘G. D’Annunzio’ University, Chieti, Italy
DOI: https://doi.org/10.12890/2020_001748

Keywords

COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, pulmonary embolism, ultrasound

Abstract

Thromboembolic disease is strongly associated with, or even an integral part of, COVID-19 pneumonia. Indeed, endothelial/microvascular damage to pulmonary capillaries seems to be the main trigger of the pneumonia. Here we report a case of pulmonary embolism in a COVID-19 patient with an atypical clinical presentation. Blood gas analysis and lung ultrasound allowed the correct diagnosis to be reached.

VIEW THE ENTIRE ARTICLE

References

  • Santilli F, Boccatonda A, Davì G. Coagulation at the crossroads of the communicable/non-communicable disease dyad: the case of pneumonia. Respirology 2016;21(8):1344–1346.

  • D'Ardes D, Boccatonda A, Schiavone C, Santilli F, Guagnano MT, Bucci M, et al. A case of coinfection with SARS-COV-2 and cytomegalovirus in the era of COVID-19. Eur J Case Rep Intern Med 2020;7(5):001652.

  • D'Ardes D, Boccatonda A, Rossi I, Guagnano MT, Santilli F, Cipollone F, et al. COVID-19 and RAS: unravelling an unclear relationship. Int J Mol Sci 2020;21(8):3003.

  • Sofia S, Boccatonda A, Montanari M, Spampinato M, D'Ardes D, Cocco G, et al. Thoracic ultrasound and SARS-COVID-19: a pictorial essay. J Ultrasound 2020 Apr 16. doi: 10.1007/s40477-020-00458-7 [Epub ahead of print].

  • Reissig A, Kroegel C. Transthoracic ultrasound of lung and pleura in the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism: a novel non-invasive bedside approach. Respiration 2003;70(5):441–452.

    • Published: 2020-06-04

    Issue: Vol 7 No 7 (view)

    Section: Articles

    How to cite:
    1.
    Boccatonda A, Ianniello E, D’Ardes D, Cocco G, Giostra F, Borghi C, Schiavone C. Can Lung Ultrasound be Used to Screen for Pulmonary Embolism in Patients with SARS-CoV-2 Pneumonia?. EJCRIM 2020;7 doi:10.12890/2020_001748.

    Most read articles by the same author(s)