Diagnostic Medical Sonography News April 2020 | Page 2

In The News
COVID-19 and Ultrasound
Our lives have changed tremendously during the past few weeks due to the
COVID-19 pandemic. I believe that this event will not only change how we relate
to families and friends, but also how we plan for the future. The economy and
healthcare system will be greatly impacted by this time of social distancing (which
I prefer to call physical distancing).
What do we know so far about COVID-19? The virus is shaped like a spiky ball.
Those spikes recognize and stick to a protein called ACE2, which is found on
the surface of our cells. The contours of the spikes allow it to stick to ACE2 far
more strongly than other viruses, such as the flu. Most respiratory viruses tend
to infect either the upper or lower airways. In general, an upper respiratory
infection spreads more easily, but tends to be milder in symptoms, while a
lower respiratory infection is harder to transmit but more severe. Unfortunately,
COVID-19 has elements of both. Once in the body, it attacks ACE2 cells. These
dying cells fill the airways, carrying the virus deeper into the body via the lungs.
As infection progresses, the lungs clog up with dead cells and fluid, making it
difficult to breathe. The immune system then tries to fight back, which causes
inflammation and fever.
In severe cases, the immune system can go into overload, causing more damage
than the actual virus. For example, blood vessels might open up to allow
defensive cells to reach the site of an infection. However, if these vessels become
too leaky, the lungs will fill with more fluid, causing a cytokine storm. During a
cytokine storm, the immune system attacks at will, not necessarily hitting the
right targets. When this happens, people become more susceptible to infectious
bacteria. This can also affect other organs aside from the lungs, especially if the
person already has a chronic disease.
This is why some COVID-19 patients end up with complications like heart
problems and secondary infections. Older patients are more prone to
complications due to having weakened immune systems and a greater number
of pre-existing conditions. Data also shows that more men than women are
hospitalized by and succumb to COVID-19. The reason for this has not been
proven using scientific evidence.
Once a patient is admitted to the hospital with severe symptoms, self-
quarantining is no longer an effective treatment for that person. Are we risking
lives by telling people to self-quarantine due to overloaded hospitals, minimal
protection for healthcare workers and a lack of respiratory ventilators?
Diagnostic
Medical
Sonography
The healthcare system is admitting more and more patients into hospitals,
which is a safety risk for healthcare workers. How can we diagnose and treat
them without infecting more people? One quick diagnostics modality is an
ultrasound of the lungs. Transducers are easier to disinfect, but what about a