Spontaneous pneumothorax as a manifestation of COVID-19: A case report

Atanu Chandra; Shrestha  Ghosh

doi:10.54034/mic.e1360

Authors

Atanu Chandra Assistant Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, RG Kar Medical College and Hospital; Khudiram Bose Sarani, Kolkata-700004, India https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3809-8926
Shrestha Ghosh Junior Resident, Department of Internal Medicine, RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata, India https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8438-2138

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54034/mic.e1360

Keywords:

COVID-19, pneumothorax, ventilation, infiltrates

Abstract

Spontaneous pneumothorax (SP) is an uncommon complication of COVID-19, mostly in association with pre-existing lung conditions or under positive pressure ventilation. SP has been reported to occur in approximately 1% of the patients with COVID-19. We report here a case of a 47-year-old non-smoker gentleman without any pre-existing lung disease, who was admitted to our facility with fever, cough and shortness of breath and for 3 days with progressive worsening and chest pain over last 24 hours. Chest radiography revealed the diagnosis of right-sided pneumothorax with widespread patchy infiltrates on the left lung field. He was tested positive for COVID-19 and cultures for secondary bacterial infections were negative. A chest drain was secured and he was given antibiotics, steroid, heparin and remdesivir. However, the patient died within next 2 days due to progressive respiratory failure. This report emphasizes awareness of the possibility of SP as a complication of COVID-19; early identification and treatment of this entity may help decrease the associated mortality and morbidity. In conclusion, the possibility of SP should always be considered in the workup of a patient of SARS-CoV-2 infection having acute shortness of breath with or without chest pain. We would like to highlight this significant, though rare, presentation of COVID-19 and urge clinicians to maintain a high index of suspicion.

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