Men and women affected by Sars-CoV-2 pneumonia: same CT features but different outcome.

AIM: To compare the computed tomography (CT) features of Sars-CoV-2 pneumonia between the two sexes and among different age groups. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Consecutive patients (n=331) who presented to the emergency department and underwent chest CT and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) with a time interval <7 days, which were subsequently found to be consistent with Sars-CoV-2 infection, were enrolled retrospectively. Two experienced radiologists evaluated the images in consensus, recording the number of pulmonary lobes with ground-glass opacities and with consolidation. A CT score was subsequently calculated based on the percentage involvement of each lobe. Clinical symptoms, comorbidities, and level of required hospitalisation were noted. In-hospital mortality was recorded and analysed via the Kaplan-Meier estimator. RESULTS: Males and females had the same age distribution. No statistically significant difference was found in the analysed CT features and in the CT score (p=0.31) between the sexes. More females were affected by two or more comorbidities (17.1% versus 7.5%, p=0.024), all comorbidities except diabetes were more prevalent in females. Women had a higher probability to be discharged home and a lower probability to be admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU; p=0.008), in-hospital mortality was inferior (13.5% versus 22%). CONCLUSION: Despite more comorbidities, women had lower hospital admission and mortality, which was independent of CT findings between both sexes.

Hepatic artery aneurysm treatment with heparin-bonded covered stent: a case report.

The hepatic artery is the second most common site for aneurysms formation within the splanchnic circulation. Most hepatic artery aneurysms (HAA) are diagnosed incidentally by a computed tomography(CT) scan or a Doppler ultrasonography. We present the case of a HAA diagnosed preoperatively in a 82-year old man, who was treated with an endovascular procedure. An abdominal ultrasonography revealed by chance the presence of a HAA. The abdominal CT scan confirmed an aneurysm of the common hepatic artery, specifically at the origin of the gastroduodenal artery. The gastroduodenal artery was embolized using coils then a heparin-bonded covered stent was deployed into the common hepatic artery to exclude the aneurysm. Final arteriogram documented the regular patency of the stent and the complete exclusion of the aneurysm. No complication occurred and the patient was discharged on the second postoperative day. Six months later, a follow-up with a Duplex scan confirmed the regular patency of the stent, and the patient was in good clinical conditions.