Pulmonary cavitation in patients with COVID-19

Introduction. The causes of pulmonary cavities are known and described by many clinicians and radiologists, but in the past two years, against the background of SARS-CoV-2 viral pneumonia, unusual cavities in the lungs have appeared, differing both in radiological manifestations and clinically. The purpose of the study. To present data on new, rare observations of the occurrence of lung cavitation in patients with Covid-19 and to determine the preferred treatment tactics. Materials and methods. A study of the results of treatment of 9924 patients with Covid-19, aged 18 to 104 years, among whom 36 cases of lung cavitation were detected (20 women and 16 men). We note that cavitations can complicate the course of coronavirus infection, especially with subpleural localization. Results. Of the 36 patients with covid cavitation, 4 died, which was 11,1 %, with a total mortality of 10 %. Long-term results were obtained, after cavitation, only in 5 patients out of 32 discharged, in the interval from 2 to 3 months: in 3 of them, multiple fibrous foci were detected during the control CT scan, in 2 - thin-walled "dry" cavities of small size. Conclusion. Pulmonary cavitations at Covid-19 don't represent a serious problem, however they should be meant how the obvious causes of pheumothorax, a pnevmomediastinum and a piopnevmotoraks and also possible sources of pulmonary bleeding.