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Lung CT Segmentation to Identify Consolidations and Ground Glass Areas for Quantitative Assesment of SARS-CoV Pneumonia

Lung CT Segmentation to Identify Consolidations and Ground Glass Areas for Quantitative Assesment of SARS-CoV Pneumonia

Published on: December 19, 2020

COVID-19-Related Pleural Diseases

Beenish Iqbal¹, Najib M Rahman^1,2, Rob J Hallifax^1,2

¹Respiratory Trials Unit, Oxford Centre for Respiratory Disease, Oxford University Hospital, Oxford Centre for Respiratory Medicine, Churchill Hospital, NHS Trust, Oxford, United Kingdom.

Seminars in Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine

|July 10, 2023

Insights

COVID-19 can cause serious pleural diseases like pneumothorax and effusion. Early recognition and targeted management of these respiratory complications are crucial for better patient outcomes.

Area of Science:

Pulmonology
Infectious Diseases
Critical Care Medicine

Background:

COVID-19 is associated with various pleural diseases, including pneumothorax, pneumomediastinum, and pleural effusion.
These complications are increasingly recognized and are not merely incidental or due to barotrauma.
The pathophysiology of COVID-19-related pleural complications is complex and linked to severe illness.

Purpose of the Study:

To review the recognition and management of COVID-19-related pleural diseases.
To highlight the association between pleural complications and disease severity.
To emphasize the importance of prompt diagnosis and intervention for improved outcomes.

Main Methods:

Review of clinical evidence and case reports concerning COVID-19 and pleural diseases.
Analysis of patient characteristics and management strategies for pneumothorax, pneumomediastinum, and pleural effusion in COVID-19 patients.
Correlation of pleural complications with disease severity and prognosis.

Main Results:

COVID-19-related pneumothorax and pneumomediastinum often require assisted ventilation and prompt intervention.
Pleural effusions in COVID-19 patients, while sharing some characteristics, are generally managed more conservatively.
Patients with COVID-19-associated pleural air leaks or effusions exhibit more severe disease and a worse prognosis.

Conclusions:

COVID-19-related pleural diseases signify more severe illness and poorer prognosis.
Prompt recognition and targeted management of these respiratory complications are essential.
Understanding the complex pathophysiology is key to optimizing patient care.

Read full analysis

Abstract:

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-related pleural diseases are now well recognized. Since the beginning of the pandemic, increasing cases of pleural diseases including pneumothorax, pneumomediastinum, and pleural effusion with severe COVID-19 infection have attracted the attention of physicians and are not incidental or due to barotrauma. The complicated course of COVID-19 illness highlights the complex pathophysiological underpinnings of pleural complications. The management of patients with pneumothorax and pneumomediastinum is challenging as the majority require assisted ventilation; physicians therefore appear to have a low threshold to intervene. Conversely, pleural effusion cases, although sharing some similar patient characteristics with pneumothorax and pneumomediastinum, are in general managed more conservatively. The evidence suggests that patients with COVID-19-related pleural diseases, either due to air leak or effusion, have more severe disease with a worse prognosis. This implies that prompt recognition of these complications and targeted management are key to improve outcomes.

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