CHEST Guidelines-A-Call-to-Action_2020

A-Call-to-Action_2020_chest

Pdf Summary

The document is a letter calling for comprehensive autopsies to better understand the full extent of organ involvement in patients who have died from COVID-19. Authored by Drs. Rolf F. Barth, Xinyang Xu, and L. Maximilian Buja, the letter emphasizes the necessity of detailed autopsies for patients who have succumbed to SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID-19. Although numerous cases of COVID-19 have been reported, there are limited autopsy-based studies revealing detailed pathologies in organs other than the lungs. <br /><br />The letter references a few notable studies. Liu et al. described an autopsy of an 85-year-old man that mentioned heavy lungs but missed critical histopathological examinations. In contrast, Barton et al. provided detailed findings from autopsies of two decedents, revealing acute damage in the lungs due to COVID-19. Xu et al. shared histopathological details from tissue biopsies of a 50-year-old patient revealing alveolar damage and atypical changes due to the virus. Moreover, Li et al. drew parallels between these findings and past respiratory syndromes like SARS and MERS, also noting potential neurological and gastrointestinal involvement.<br /><br />The letter stresses the importance of autopsies as fewer such procedures are being conducted globally. It argues that understanding the diverse pathology across different organs in COVID-19 decedents, through complete autopsies, could lead to better treatment strategies. The authors appeal for more detailed autopsy reports amid rising COVID-19 fatalities to aid physicians in improving patient care. The document is published under the American College of Chest Physicians with acknowledgment given to Ms. Delisa Watkins for assisting in its preparation. No financial disclosures are declared.

Keywords

COVID-19

autopsies

organ involvement

SARS-CoV-2

pathology

lung damage

histopathological examinations

treatment strategies

American College of Chest Physicians

Dr. Rolf F. Barth