Intrapulmonary Shunt and Alveolar Dead Space in a Cohort of Patients with Acute COVID-19 Pneumonitis and Early Recovery

What is it about?

This study shows that in patients with acute COVID-19 lung disease there are two causes of low oxygen in the blood vessels. These are 1. areas of the lung where there is airflow, but this does not reach the blood vessels, and 2. areas of the lung where the blood vessels are not exposed to air in the lung. When patients recover from COVID-19, some patients still have evidence that there are areas of the lung where there is air but no blood flow, suggesting there is persistent blood vessel damage in the lungs after COVID-19

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Why is it important?

This helps to explain the causes of low oxygen in the blood when patients with COVID-19 are unwell. The persistent blood vessel damage in the lungs in early recovery may help to explain why some people have ongoing symptoms.