Coronavirus Slowly Fills Lungs With Sludge And Eventually Suffocates Patients, Doctors Say

The total confirmed cases of COVID-19 infection worldwide now stand at over two million, with more than 134,000 deaths. As this developed, doctors from Cleveland Clinic published a study to the American Journal of Clinical Pathology, showing how the virus wreaks havoc in the lungs. The hellish image shows the horrifying damage caused by the coronavirus.

A Thick Sludge

According to the authors, “the upper and lower airways were . . . lined by a smooth, glistening, pale cream-colored mucosa.” To illustrate, images were also included showing a thick layer of mucus, resembling more like paint, coating the lungs of deceased COVID-19 patients. The authors said that this might have led to the oxygen being cut off.

Oklahoma doctors examined two individuals who died before their coronavirus test results came out, which turned out to be positive. The first was an elderly man who experienced COVID-19 symptoms for seven days but did not seek treatment or medical diagnosis before his death. Since he died without undergoing intubation, researchers saw what can happen when the disease goes unchecked.

Doctors found that the slime-like material in the air sacs of the man’s lungs caused major inflammation in the victim’s airways. Dr. Sanjay Mukhopadhyay, Cleveland Clinic’s director of pulmonary pathology, said, “That’s why they can’t breathe because it’s very difficult to get oxygen through those thick walls.”

Bacterial Pneumonia

The other victim, a 42-year-old overweight man with existing medical conditions, also was found to be COVID-19 positive only after his death. Doctors, however, said that his cause of death was not due to coronavirus but because of bacterial pneumonia. His lungs were not coated with a paint-like substance as opposed to the other victim.

The doctors performed the two autopsies very carefully. They also wore protective equipment like gowns, gloves, N95 masks, and other safety gear. The study published by the doctors was the first peer-reviewed postmortem report on coronavirus patients.

No Blood Clots

Aside from discovering the existence of thick mucus, doctors also tried to look for evidence of blood clots but did not find any. Medical practitioners have been wondering if the virus can cause inflammation to the heart, but the doctors who examined the two victims did not find any in both bodies. Health experts have also hypothesized that coronavirus may cause blood clots, but the doctors did not find any evidence of that either.

According to Dr. Mukhopadhyay, more autopsies similar to what they performed could give “insights into what is potentially going on in the lungs that is reversible.” The doctor also said that what they might find later could answer questions like whether there is anything there that can be considered treatable. He also said that they might also find an answer to the question if there is anything there that can be targeted by a drug.

For now, Dr. Mukhopadhyay said the answer, unfortunately, is no. The doctor said, “there’s no specific drug that can make that reverse, so you really need to treat the virus if you can.” We don’t have a good antiviral drug so far, but when we get one, that will be the way to treat that.”