ACUTE PULMONARY THROMBOEMBOLISM IN COVID-19 PATIENTS: EVALUATION USING CT PULMONARY ANGIOGRAPHY

Abstract

Introduction- COVID-19 disease has been associated with pro thrombotic state and endothelial damage resulting into thromboembolic events ranging from venous thrombosis of lower limbs to pulmonary thrombo-embolism and subsequently pulmonary infarctions.Computed tomographic pulmonary angiography (CTPA) was the standard of care at our institute for evaluation of patients with suspected pulmonary embolism. It plays a key role in its confirmatory diagnosis,defining its extent and thereby helping in better management. Materials and Methods-A Retrospective study was done in Sri Aurobindo Medical College and Post graduate Institute, Indore,Madhya Pradesh,India and was approved by the hospital ethical committee.The study was done on 300 COVID19 patients with clinically suspected pulmonary thromboembolism who underwent CTPA between the months of January 2021 and October 2021.The scans were analysed by experienced radiologists. Results- Through our study we found that approx.13.7% patients had pulmonary thromboembolism and it was seen in patients with moderate to severe lung involvement. Conclusion- Through this study we have tried to assess the presence pulmonary thromboembolism using CTPA and have also tried to establish its relationship with percentage of lung involvement on CT. Aims and Objectives - To assess for the presence of acute pulmonary thromboembolism in COVID 19 patients using CTPA and to establish its relationship with severity of lung involvement on CT in a single institute in Central India during a span of six months.