Epidemiological and Clinical Characteristics of Adults with Coronavirus Disease 2019 Complicated with Pneumothorax

Abstract

Background: The major brunt of coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-2019) is borne by the lungs. The major cause of morbidity and mortality in COVID-19 patients is a compromise of the respiratory system. Pneumothorax is noted as an insignificant proportion of patients suffering from COVID-19, but it jeopardizes the clinical recovery significantly. We, in the case series of 10 patients, will be summarizing the epidemiological, demographic, and clinical characteristics of COVID-19 patients who also developed pneumothorax.

Patients and methods: All the confirmed cases of COVID-19 pneumonia diagnosed between May 1, 2020 and August 30, 2020, admitted at our center meeting the inclusion criteria and whose clinical course was complicated by pneumothorax were made part of our study. Their clinical records were studied, and epidemiological, demographic, and clinical data of these patients were collected and compiled in this case series.

Results: All the patients in our study required ICU care, and 60% received non-invasive mechanical ventilation, while 40% of the patients progressed to intubation and invasive mechanical ventilation. A total of 70% of the patients in our study had a successful outcome, while 30% succumbed to the disease and expired.

Conclusion: Epidemiological, demographic, and clinical characteristics of COVID-19 patients complicated with pneumothorax were evaluated. Our study showed that pneumothorax also developed in some patients who had not received mechanical ventilation, indicating that pneumothorax could be a secondary complication of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Our study also emphasizes the fact that even the majority of patients whose clinical course was complicated by pneumothorax had a successful outcome emphasizing the need for timely and adequate intervention in such cases.

How to cite this article: Singh NK. Epidemiological and Clinical Characteristics of Adults with Coronavirus Disease 2019 Complicated with Pneumothorax. Indian J Crit Care Med 2022;26(7):833-835.

Keywords: Coronavirus disease-2019; Pneumothorax; SARS-CoV-2 infection.