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

Authors

• 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

andrea.boccatonda@gmail.com

Keywords

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.