Abstract
Introduction: The new coronavirus pneumonia (COVID-19) has emerged as the main threats to global health since December 2019. Addressing part of the pulmonary pathophysiology involved in the disease is important to help interested health professionals better understand the different aspects of this complex pathology. Aim: This article aims to present part of the pathophysiological process involved in pulmonary complications associated with Covid-19. Methods: An integrative literature review was carried out, with articles published between 2019 and 2020, in the Google and PubMed databases, using the following search terms: coronavirus, COVID-19, pulmonary complications, pneumonia. Results: 6 articles were included, addressing the proposed theme. Conclusion: The individual's infection with COVID-19 has the potential to cause significant changes in ventilatory capacity, leading to diffuse pulmonary impairment and worsening gas exchange. Further studies are needed to clarify the pathophysiology of this complex disease with a high potential for contagion, morbidity and mortality.Keywords: coronavirus infections, communicable diseases, pneumonia. Â
Highlights
IntroductionCOVID-19, or the coronavirus, started in China in late 2019 as a set of cases of pneumonia with an unknown cause
The new coronavirus pneumonia (COVID-19) has emerged as the main threats to global health since December 2019
Addressing part of the pulmonary pathophysiology involved in the disease is important to help interested health professionals better understand the different aspects of this complex pathology
Summary
COVID-19, or the coronavirus, started in China in late 2019 as a set of cases of pneumonia with an unknown cause. The cause of pneumonia was found to be a new virus - severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 or Sars-CoV-2. When people with COVID-19 develop cough and fever, this is a result of the infection that affects the bronchial tree. With the evolution of the condition, the virus reaches the gas exchange units (alveoli), igniting them and, promoting the filling of such alveoli by liquids, cellular debris and others, due to the alterations caused in the alveolar-capillary membrane. This condition will be characterized as pneumonia, resulting in an inability of gas exchange with consequent hypoxemia and hypercapnia. According to the imaging exam, 75% of patients had bilateral pneumonia, 14% of patients had multiple spots and ground-glass opacity, and 1% of patients had pneumothorax. 17% of patients developed acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and, among them, 11% of patients worsened in a short period and died from multiple organ failure
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