Pneumothorax in patients with prior or current COVID-19 pneumonia
Matthijs L. Janssen, Mirjam J.G. van Manen, Sander Cretier, Gert‐Jan Braunstahl
Abstract
As the number of COVID-19 cases emerge, new complications associated with the disease are recognized. We present three cases of spontaneous pneumothorax in patients with COVID-19. They show that a pneumothorax can occur during different phases of disease, in patients without a pulmonary disease history and is not necessarily associated to positive pressure ventilation or severity of COVID-19. Although the exact causative mechanisms remain unknown, this observation might imply that extensive alveolar destruction due to COVID-19 may lead to bulla formation resulting in subsequent pneumothorax.
Topics & Concepts
PneumothoraxMedicineCoronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)PneumoniaBulla (seal)Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)2019-20 coronavirus outbreakDiseaseIntensive care medicineLungSurgeryPathologyInternal medicineInfectious disease (medical specialty)OutbreakPneumothorax, Barotrauma, EmphysemaPleural and Pulmonary DiseasesRespiratory Support and Mechanisms