CT Chest at discharge in Hospitalized Covid-19 patients: Should we worry about the long term evolution of parenchymal lesions?

Abstract

Objectives: Covid-19 epidemic has led to thousands of hospitalized patients and the fear of long-term pulmonary sequelae is real. This preliminary study aimed at describing the pattern of lung parenchymal lesions in patients at the time of clinical recovery. Methods Patients who were hospitalized for a severe Covid-19 pneumonia and who underwent a CTchest less at the time of discharge were included. CT scan parenchymal lesions were classified using international recommendations and compared to the diagnostic CT scan. Results We included 32 patients, median age 57 yo [26-89]. Out of them, 10 patients required ICU admission. The median hospital stay was 12 days [4-28]. All CT chest at discharge showed persistent parenchymal abnormalities regardless of the time of clinical recovery or ICU requirement. The main radiological pattern at admission was bilateral ground glass opacities in 28/30 (93.3%), associated in 12 patients (40%) with areas of consolidation, and organized pneumonia in 8 patients (27%). At discharge, the main radiological pattern remained bilateral ground glass opacities in 29/32 patients (91%) associated with consolidation in 3/32 patients (9%) and organized pneumonia in 25/32 patients (78%). There was no correlation between lesions extent and clinical severity, particularly ICU requirement. Conclusion CT-chest of patients recovering from severe covid-19 show parenchymal persistent abnormalities: careful consideration of the organisation of recovery of lung function follow-up is thus needed and the question of antifibrotic agent usefulness may be anticipated.Conclusion CT-chest of patients recovering from severe covid-19 show parenchymal persistent abnormalities : careful consideration of the organisation of recovery of lung function follow-up is thus needed and the question of antifibrotic agent usefulness may be anticipated.