CASE REPORT / SHORT REPORT   Open access

Italian Journal of Emergency Medicine 2020 August;9(2):74-7

DOI: 10.23736/S2532-1285.20.00023-3

Copyright © 2020 THE AUTHORS

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language: English

A pulmonary embolism-like pattern for the early identification of patients with SARS-CoV2 interstitial pneumonia: a case report

Gabriele CIONI ✉

Department of Emergency, SS Cosma and Damiano Hospital, USL Toscana Centro, Pescia, Pistoia, Italy

Recent reports on the Chinese population provided clinical and laboratory characteristics of COVID-19 patients, and several authors investigated the role of coagulation markers in relation to pathogenesis and prognosis. In this case series we described three patients affected by SARS-CoV2-related interstitial pneumonia. Concurrent tachycardia, chest pain, hypocapnic respiratory failure, and signs of widespread lung involvement already on ultrasound examination, are associated with a greater severity of disease. In this context, high levels of D-dimer help identify patients with intensive care needs. In the suspicion of COVID-19 infection, what we have called pulmonary embolism-like pattern, could help identify patients with rapidly progressive disease early.

KEY WORDS: Pneumonia; Coronavirus; Hypocapnia