Incoherency between the clinical condition and the chest X-ray result in COVID-19 patients: a case series

Abstract

Despite the routine dependence upon chest X–ray (CXR) to monitor COVID-10 patients’ condition, we found that CXR and the clinical condition of some patients were incoherent, especially regarding the need of oxygen supplementation. In our patients, the incoherency was found in three patients, although, the PCR test result was still positive. In the first patient, we noted from the CXR that the pulmonary infiltrate was getting worse, but the oxygen demand was getting less and the PaO2/FiO2 was getting better on Day 4. For the second patient it happened on Day 4 and 5. In our third patient, it happened on the Day 6 and 11. All of the patients were cured and discharged home safely. Our finding indicates that we have to rely more on the clinical condition and subjective complaints of the patients, rather than CXR results to evaluate the therapy because there may be an incoherency between the two. Key word: COVID-19; Timeline; Incoherency; Clinical condition Citation: Permana SA, Aditianingsih D, Thamrin MH, Arifin, Purwoko. Incoherency between the clinical condition and chest X-ray result in COVID-19 patients: a case series. Anaesth. pain intensive care 2021;25(6):798–803 ; DOI: 10.35975/apic.v25i6.1710 Received: September 11, 2021, Reviewed: September 22, 2021, Accepted: September 24, 2021