Post-COVID 19 pulmonary thromboembolism in oncological surgery patients: about a clinical case

Abstract

The SARS-CoV-2 virus mainly infects epithelial cells of the respiratory tract. Upon entering the body, it uses the S spike protein to bind to the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 on the surface of the host cells, allowing the virus to enter the cell, provoking a series of inflammatory and immune responses, an exaggerated response that leads to the release of proinflammatory cytokines, exacerbating endothelitis, causing damage to vascular integrity and inflammation. Thrombotic microangiopathy is secondary to both endotheliopathy and thrombocytopathy, the immune response, complement activation and the cytokine cascade can cause pulmonary thromboembolism. Pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) is considered an acute and potentially fatal disease, ranking third among the most common vascular disorders after coronary heart disease and stroke. It is worrying that an increase in the incidence of PE has been observed not only in patients undergoing oncological surgery, but also in any type of surgery that in the past was not a risk factor for developing PE. We must continue to observe and look for the cause.