Initial Chest Radiographic Findings in Heatstroke Patients

Objective: To describe imaging-specific findings on the initial chest radiographs in a group of heatstroke patients. Materials and Methods: An experienced radiologist retrospectively evaluated the initial chest radiographs of 15 heatstroke patients from the September 2016 Mecca stampede. The presence of endotracheal intubation, pleural effusions, airspace opacities, interstitial opacities or bronchial wall thickening was recorded. The chest radiographs were also assessed for being unilaterally or bilaterally abnormal. Results: Assessment included eight (53%) males and seven (47%) females (average age of 54 +/slandered deviation 12 years), eight (53%) of which were intubated. 12 (80%) radiographs were abnormal; nine (60%) bilateral. There were five (33%) cases of pleural effusions. There were two (13%) cases of ground-glass opacities, six (40%) cases with atelectasis, eight (53%) cases of bilateral bronchial wall thickening and three (20%) cases of bilateral interstitial lung opacities. No pneumothoraces or consolidations were detected. Conclusion: Most heatstroke patients had bilateral nonspecific initial chest radiographic findings. Bronchial wall thickening, interstitial opacities, and partial atelectasis were most encountered while pleural effusions and ground-glass opacities were less frequent. Further studies are required before our results could be generalized.