PMC8142809_01
Chest X-ray on admission to the hospital prior to intubation.
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fig1
Chest X-ray showed bilateral peripheral nodular opacification, most marked in the left mid zone, in keeping with consolidation (Figure 1).
CTPA demonstrated COVID-19 pneumonitis throughout and left consolidation. Appearances in the left lung may suggest superadded bacterial consolidation on a background of bilateral COVID-19 pneumonitis. Appearances in the right lung are more suggestive of COVID-19 pneumonitis.
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fig2
On route to the ICU, a CT pulmonary angiogram (CTPA) was performed (Figure 2).
The patient trend in FiO2, SpO2, PaO2, and P:F ratio throughout her time in critical care (P:F 40 kPa = 300 mmHg, P:F 26.7 kPa = 200 mmHg, and P:F 13.3 kPa = 100 mmHg). Self-prone positioning was encouraged when the P:F ratio was under 150 mmHg (20 kPa). We did not stipulate a maximum prone time; this was determined by patient comfort, tolerance, and between-care episodes requiring the patient to be supine.
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fig3
The trend in FiO2, SpO2, PaO2, and P:F ratio throughout her time in critical care shows improvement and fluctuation with time self-prone (Figure 3).