Spontaneous pneumothorax and subcutaneous emphysema in COVID-19 patient: Case report

J Infect Public Health. 2020 Jun;13(6):887-889. doi: 10.1016/j.jiph.2020.05.012. Epub 2020 May 26.

Abstract

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome virus coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). As known, COVID-19 has become a global pandemic and serious health problem. Disease mainly affects lungs and common findings are fever cough and shortness of breath. Computerized tomography (CT) has an important role in initial evaluation and follow up of COVID-19. Main (CT) finding of the disease is bilateral extensive ground-glass opacification (GGO) with a peripheral or posterior distribution, mainly involving the lower lobes. In this case report, we present a pneumothorax and subcutaneous emphysema case in a patient with COVID-19. To the best of authors' knowledge, it is the first illustrated case of pneumothorax accompanying COVID-19 pneumonia.

Keywords: COVID-19; Pandemic; Pneumothorax; Subcutaneous emphysema.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Antiviral Agents / therapeutic use
  • Betacoronavirus
  • COVID-19
  • Coronavirus Infections / complications*
  • Coronavirus Infections / diagnosis
  • Female
  • Fever / virology
  • Humans
  • Lung / diagnostic imaging
  • Lung / virology
  • Pandemics
  • Pneumonia, Viral / complications*
  • Pneumonia, Viral / diagnosis
  • Pneumothorax / diagnostic imaging
  • Pneumothorax / virology*
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Subcutaneous Emphysema / diagnostic imaging
  • Subcutaneous Emphysema / drug therapy
  • Subcutaneous Emphysema / virology*
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Antiviral Agents