Frontal QRS-T angle in patients with the suspicion of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19): could it be used as a predictive gravity sign even before the diagnosis by PCR?

OBJECTIVE: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been an ongoing global public health concern, causing serious challenges in diagnosing the disease timely. We investigated the value of the frontal QRS-T (fQRS-T) angle in patients visiting the emergency department with the suspicion of COVID-19. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A hundred and thirty-seven patients with the complaint of dyspnea were evaluated retrospectively. The patients with a history of coronary artery disease, heart failure, pulmonary disease, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, or using any medication such as heart rate controllers or antiarrhythmic drugs were excluded from the study. The angle between frontal QRS- and T-wave axis was defined as the fQRS-T angle, and the patients were divided into two groups based on the fQRS-T angle (group 1, <90° and group 2, ≥90°). Demographic, clinical, electrocardiographic data and rRT-PCR results were compared between the groups. RESULTS: The mean value of the fQRS-T angle of all participants was 45.26°. There was no significant difference between the groups according to the demographic and clinical data. Subjects with wider fQRS-T angle (group 2) had higher heart rates (p = 0.018), higher corrected QT values (p = 0.017), and higher QRS axis (p = 0.001). The patients in group 2 had a higher number of positive COVID-19 rRT-PCR test results compared to subjects with the normal fQRS-T angle (p = 0.002). In multivariate regression analysis, fQRS-T angle (p = 0.027, OR: 1.013, 95% CI: 1.001-1.024) was found as an independent variable affecting the PCR test results. CONCLUSIONS: Prompt diagnosis, initiating preventive and protective measures in an early stage of COVID-19 are crucial. In suspected COVID-19 infection, the use of faster-resulting tests and diagnostic tools for COVID-19 allows patients to be diagnosed and treated in a timely manner for recovery, thereby optimizing patient management. Therefore, the fQRS-T angle can be used in patients with dyspnea as a part of diagnostic scores of COVID-19, even before the rRT-PCR test results and overt disease.

Early-Term Outcomes of Pulmonary Embolism Response Team

Background: Treatment of pulmonary embolism, which is a life-threatening clinical condition, varies according to the different clinical presentations and experiences of the healthcare centers. Pulmonary embolism response teams (PERT) might improve outcomes of pulmonary embolism with faster evaluation and increases the usage of advanced treatment methods. In this study, the effects of PERT in the treatment of pulmonary embolism were investigated. Method(s): Patients diagnosed with pulmonary embolism in our hospital between 01.03.2019 and 28.02.2022 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients, who were diagnosed with PE for the first time and over 18 years of age, were included in the study. The data of the patients was obtained from the patient files. Hospitalization rates, referral rates, treatment approaches, and early-term outcomes were evaluated. Result(s): Nine-eight patients with pulmonary embolism were evaluated by the PERT during the study period. The mean age was 62.8+16.4 years and 59% were male. Nine patients had a history of fracture twelve patients had recently had Covid-19 infection and 6 patients had a history of long-term traveling. Twenty-nine patients had a proven deep venous thrombosis.All patients with intermediate-low risk were treated medically. 59.2% of the patients were hospitalized. The rate of catheterdirected thrombolysis was 37.8% (n=37). Systemic thrombolytic therapy was performed on two patients. One patient with a metastatic brain tumor was treated with low-molecular-weight heparin. Catheter-directed procedures were performed in 37 patients. The time from diagnosis to reperfusion was 243 minutes. There was one pericardial effusion and onemortality. In the 30-day follow- up there was no re-hospitalization and mortality. Conclusion(s): Treatment of pulmonary embolism still varies according to clinical experience. PERT might help with early triage and treatment of patients with pulmonary embolism. Experienced specialists in this team might contribute to clinical recovery by performing advanced treatment methods and decreasing the risk of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension in the long term and improving the clinical outcomes by increasing quality of life.

Evaluation of patients followed by COVID-19 after quarantine

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect the world with serious number of cases and deaths. For this reason, knowing the clinical findings and course of the disease is important for early diagnosis and treatment. In this article, COVID-19 cases followed up after quarantine were discussed. Materials and Methods: In this study, the data of 99 patients who were followed up during travel and post-Umrah quarantine between 31 March and 15 April 2020 were retrospectively reviewed. Results: Of the 99 patients included in the study, 66 (66.7%) were females, 33 (33.3%) were males, and mean age was 59.8 ± 11.4 years. SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR test was positive at the time of admission in 97 (98.0%) of the 99 patients. Thirty-nine (39.4%) of the patients were symptomatic and 25.3% of the patients had cough, 8.1% had fever, and 7.1% had shortness of breath. While SARSCoV-2 RT-PCR test was negative in 2 (3.3%) of the 60 patients without complaints, 58 (96.7%) of them were positive for SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR test. Leukopenia was detected as 3%, lymphopenia 66.7%, D-dimer height 47.5%, LDH elevation 38.4%, CRP elevation 45.5%. Ground glass opacities were present in 81 (81.8%) of the patients with lung involvement, and consolidation areas were present in 40 patients (40.4%). Underlying disease was present in 38 (38.4%) of the patients. Hypertension and diabetes mellitus were the most common underlying diseases. It was observed that 89 (89.4%) of our cases had negative SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR test on the 5th day. Conclusion: COVID-19 infection is an infectious disease that can present with many different clinics. In asymptomatic COVID-19 cases, lung involvement findings and disorders in laboratory parameters may be observed. It should be kept in mind that asymptomatic cases pose a risk in terms of transmission.

Evaluation of Patients Followed by COVID-19 After Quarantine

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect the world with serious number of cases and deaths. For this reason, knowing the clinical findings and course of the disease is important for early diagnosis and treatment. In this article, COVID-19 cases followed up after quarantine were discussed. Materials and Methods: In this study, the data of 99 patients who were followed up during travel and post-Umrah quarantine between 31 March and 15 April 2020 were retrospectively reviewed. Results: Of the 99 patients included in the study, 66 (66.7%) were females, 33 (33.3%) were males, and mean age was 59.8 +/- 11.4 years. SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR test was positive at the time of admission in 97 (98.0%) of the 99 patients. Thirty-nine (39.4%) of the patients were symptomatic and 25.3% of the patients had cough, 8.1% had fever, and 7.1% had shortness of breath. While SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR test was negative in 2 (3.3%) of the 60 patients without complaints, 58 (96.7%) of them were positive for SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR test. Leukopenia was detected as 3%, lymphopenia 66.7%, D-dimer height 47.5%, LDH elevation 38.4%, CRP elevation 45.5%. Ground glass opacities were present in 81 (81.8%) of the patients with lung involvement, and consolidation areas were present in 40 patients (40.4%). Underlying disease was present in 38 (38.4%) of the patients. Hypertension and diabetes mellitus were the most common underlying diseases. It was observed that 89 (89.4%) of our cases had negative SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR test on the 5th day. Conclusion: COVID-19 infection is an infectious disease that can present with many different clinics. In asymptomatic COVID-19 cases, lung involvement findings and disorders in laboratory parameters may be observed. It should be kept in mind that asymptomatic cases pose a risk in terms of transmission.