How necessary it is to perform a ventilation scan in patients with a history of COVID-۱۹ to rule out pulmonary thromboembolism?

Objective(s): This study evaluated the necessity of a ventilation scan in patients suspected of PE with a history of COVID-۱۹ infection.Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of patients with PCR-confirmed COVID-۱۹ and suspected PE at a tertiary care hospital in ۲۰۲۰. They underwent ventilation/perfusion (V/Q) scintigraphy using single-photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography (SPECT/CT) and CT scans with or without contrast. Two blinded nuclear medicine physicians interpreted the images for PE and COVID-۱۹. Clinical and laboratory data were extracted and analyzed.Results:  ۹۶ patients with suspected PE and COVID-۱۹ infection. The study excluded eight patients who could not undergo ventilation scans and confirmed PE in five patients with multiple mismatched V/Q defects on SPECT/CT. The study ruled out PE in ۸۳ patients who had either regular perfusion scans, perfusion defects with COVID-۱۹ features, or matched V/Q defects. The study found that the prevalence of PE was ۵.۶۸%, and the necessity of ventilation scans was ۲۸.۴۰% in this population.Conclusion: It was found that PE was present in ۵.۶۸% of the patients, and ventilation scans were needed for ۲۸.۴۰% of the patients to confirm or exclude it.

کلیدواژه ها:

SPECT/CT scan ، COVID-۱۹ ، Pulmonary Embolism ، ventilation scan