Evaluation of the Trachea and Bronchi in COVID-19 Patients Using the 3-dimensional Reconstruction Method.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate changes in the trachea and bronchi of COVID-19 patients using the 3-dimensional reconstruction images obtained from chest CT (computed tomography) scans.

STUDY DESIGN

An observational study. Place and Duration of the Study: Departments of Anatomy and Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Lokman Hekim University, Ankara, Turkey, between March 2021 and January 2022.

METHODOLOGY

There were 150 COVID-19 patients in the acute period and 150 individuals as the control group. The CT images were transferred to Mimics software, and a 3-dimensional reconstruction was performed. COVID-19 patients were grouped separately by gender, and their total lung severity score was classified as absent (Grade 0), mild (Grade 1), moderate (Grade 2), and severe (Grade 3).

RESULTS

The cross-sectional area and diameter of the right upper lobar bronchus decreased as the grade increased (p<0.05 and p<0.001, respectively). The circumference of the right upper lobar bronchus and the cross-sectional area and circumference of the left lower lobar bronchus were found to be narrower in Grade 1-2-3 COVID-19 patients compared to those of the control group (p<0.01, p<0.05, and p<0.05, respectively). The cross-sectional area, circumference, and diameter of the middle lobar bronchus were found to be narrower in Grade 3 COVID-19 patients (p<0.05, p<0.05, and p<0.05, respectively).

CONCLUSION

Although mostly independent of the grade increase, narrowing of the trachea and bronchi was observed in COVID-19 patients in the acute period. Further research is required with to reveal whether the narrowings are permanent.

KEY WORDS

COVID-19, Trachea, Bronchus, 3-dimensional reconstruction.