STUDY OF POST COVID-19 SEQUELAE IN HRCT LUNG

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: COVID19 outbreak has become a pandemic worldwide. There has been a fairly high rate of clinical recovery among Covid patients but complete resolution or sequelae in terms of radiological findings need to be studied. AIM OF THE STUDY 1. To understand the common pulmonary sequalae, time taken for complete resolution and factors affecting the resolution process in covid-19 patients who have been discharged after recovery, with Chest HRCT follow up. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This is an observational study which included a total of 100 discharged patients diagnosed with covid-19 by RTPCR at Index Medical College, Hospital & Research Centre, Indore-MP-India, from March 15 to June 30-2021.All the patients underwent an initial chest CT scan done 3-5 days after the onset of symptoms,followed by serial CT scans done at discharge and at 1st, 2nd and 3rd weeks after discharge. The radiological characteristics and patterns on CT chest were studied and a CT severity scoring was done for all the scans. RESULTS: GGO were the most common pattern seen (88%) on chest CT at discharge followed by fibrotic bands (61%) with the right lower lung (85%) most commonly involved.61% of patients showed complete resolution at the end of 3rd week after discharge indicating that COVID 19 induced pulmonary damage is reversible in majority of cases with no long term sequalae. However 39 patients demonstrated residual abnormalities. Older patients are at high risk for residual pulmonary lesions and there is no gender predilection. Patients having comorbidities like hypertension, diabetes or bronchial asthma were not at a higher risk of developing pulmonary sequalae. CONCLUSION: The resolution of most lesions by 3 weeks after discharge implies gradual resolution of inflammation with re-expansion of alveoli and perhaps the reversible nature of the lesions of Covid-19.