Thromboprophylaxis decreases the risk of pulmonary embolism in COVID-19

Abstract

Aim: Pulmonary embolism caused by micromboli and microthrombuses might be associated with increased mortality and morbidity in Covid-19. Routine thromboprophylaxis application might contribute to clinical recovery by reducing the risk of pulmonary embolism. In this study, the effects of thromboprophylaxis on clinical outcomes were investigated by examining the rates of computed tomographic angiography requests for the differential diagnosis of pulmonary embolism in the patients with Covid-19. Materials and Methods: Patients who underwent computed tomography (CT) between 10 March and 25 May 2020 in our hospital were retrospectively analysed. Patients who received simultaneous PCR tests during CT examination were included in the study. In the follow-up of these patients, rates of pulmonary CT angiography request with the suspicion of pulmonary embolism and it’s were investigated. Results: During the study period, thorax CT was performed in 11142 patients and pulmonary CT angiography was performed in 161 (1.4%) of them. Ninety-nine patients who were performed CT angiography and PCR test during the hospitalization period were included in the study. PCR test was positive in 22% (n = 21) of the patients (22%) and pulmonary embolism was detected in 6 of them (6.3%). PCR test was negative in 74 patients (78%) and 17 (17.9%) had pulmonary embolism. Conclusion: Routine thromboprophylaxis contributes to the treatment of Covid-19 by preventing the development of microthrombosis and thrombotic complications in the respiratory system.

Keywords

• Covid-19
• Coronovirus
• pumonary embolism
• thrombosis

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