Case Series
Year: 2021 | Month: June | Volume: 11 | Issue: 6 | Pages: 178-181
DOI: https://doi.org/10.52403/ijhsr.20210628
Pneumothorax in Non-Ventilated COVID-19 Patients: A Case Series
Komal Gharsangi1, Rajesh Bhawani2, Jitender Sandhu3
1Assistant Professor, 2Prof and Head, 3Senior Resident, Department of General Medicine, Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri Govt Medical College, Mandi, Himachal Pradesh-175008
Corresponding Author: Rajesh Bhawani
ABSTRACT
Coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) caused by SARS-CoV-2 has spread worldwide resulting in on-going pandemic. Lung is the most common organ involved in COVID-19 with common radiological finding being ground glass opacities in peripheral distribution and lower lobes.1 Pneumothorax is uncommon feature to observe with COVID-19. The exact incidence of this complication is still not known. In a report by Chen et al. 1% (one patient) had a pneumothorax among other radiographic features.2 In a study published by Yang and colleagues in 92 deceased COVID-19 patients, one (1.1%) had a pneumothorax.3 The mechanism of spontaneous pneumothorax in patients with COVID-19 disease is proposed to be related to the structural changes in the lung parenchyma which include cystic and fibrotic changes leading to alveolar tears. In addition to the increase in intrathoracic pressure resulting from prolonged coughing and/or mechanical ventilation.4,5 Pneumothorax further complicates the case of COVID-19. We present two cases of pneumothorax in young males, average height, non-smokers without any pre-existing lung pathology.
Key words: COVID-19, pneumothorax.