Pulmonary and systemic involvement in COVID-19 patients assessed with ultrasound-guided minimally invasive autopsy.

AIMS: Brazil ranks high in the number of coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) cases and the COVID-19 mortality rate. In this context, autopsies are important to confirm the disease, determine associated conditions, and study the pathophysiology of this novel disease. The aim of this study was to assess the systemic involvement of COVID-19. In order to follow biosafety recommendations, we used ultrasound-guided minimally invasive autopsy (MIA-US), and we present the results of 10 initial autopsies. METHODS AND RESULTS: We used MIA-US for tissue sampling of the lungs, liver, heart, kidneys, spleen, brain, skin, skeletal muscle and testis for histology, and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction to detect severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 RNA. All patients showed exudative/proliferative diffuse alveolar damage. There were intense pleomorphic cytopathic effects on the respiratory epithelium, including airway and alveolar cells. Fibrinous thrombi in alveolar arterioles were present in eight patients, and all patients showed a high density of alveolar megakaryocytes. Small thrombi were less frequently observed in the glomeruli, spleen, heart, dermis, testis, and liver sinusoids. The main systemic findings were associated with comorbidities, age, and sepsis, in addition to possible tissue damage due to the viral infection, such as myositis, dermatitis, myocarditis, and orchitis. CONCLUSIONS: MIA-US is safe and effective for the study of severe COVID-19. Our findings show that COVID-19 is a systemic disease causing major events in the lungs and with involvement of various organs and tissues. Pulmonary changes result from severe epithelial injury and microthrombotic vascular phenomena. These findings indicate that both epithelial and vascular injury should be addressed in therapeutic approaches.

Real-time and Doppler US after pediatric segmental liver transplantation : I. Portal vein stenosis.

BACKGROUND: Accurate diagnosis of portal vein (PV) stenosis by real-time and color Doppler US (CD-US) after segmental liver transplantation in children can decrease morbidity by avoiding unnecessary biopsy, PV hypertension, thrombosis and loss of the graft. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate CD-US parameters for the prediction of PV stenosis after segmental liver transplantation in children. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 61 CD-US examinations measuring the diameter at the PV anastomosis, velocities at the anastomosis (PV1) and in the segment proximal to the anastomosis (PV2), and the PV1/PV2 velocity ratio. The study group comprised patients with stenosis confirmed by angiography and the control group comprised patients with a good clinical outcome. RESULTS: PV stenosis was seen in 12 CD-US examinations. The mean PV diameter was smaller in the study group (2.6 mm versus 5.7 mm) and a PV diameter of <3.5 mm was highly predictive of stenosis (sensitivity 100%, specificity 91.8%). CONCLUSION: A PV diameter of <3.5 mm is a highly predictive CD-US parameter for the detection of hemodynamically significant stenosis on angiography.

Real-time and Doppler US after pediatric segmental liver transplantation : II. Hepatic vein stenosis.

BACKGROUND: Accurate diagnosis of hepatic vein (HV) stenosis by real-time and color Doppler US (CD-US) after segmental liver transplantation in children can decrease morbidity because it allows unnecessary biopsy, obstruction or thrombosis and loss of the graft to be avoided. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate CD-US parameters to predict HV stenosis after segmental liver transplantation in children. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective review of 79 CD-US examinations measuring velocity at the HV anastomosis (HV1) and the main trunk 1-2 cm proximal to the HV/IVC anastomosis (HV2), the HV1/HV2 ratio and the spectral waveform of HV2. The study group comprised patients with stenosis confirmed by angiography. The control group comprised patients with a good clinical outcome. RESULTS: HV stenosis was seen in 12 CD-US examinations. The mean HV1/HV2 ratio was higher in the study group (6.0 versus 4.0). An HV1/HV2 ratio of >4.1 was predictive of HV stenosis (sensitivity 83%, specificity 76%). CONCLUSION: An HV1/HV2 ratio of >4.1 is a highly predictive CD-US parameter for the detection of hemodynamically significant HV stenosis on angiography.