Pneumoperitoneum in a Patient With COVID-19 and Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome Without Pneumothorax

Kartik K Goswami; Rakesh Kumar; Sanjeev K Goswami

doi:10.7759/cureus.39593

Pneumoperitoneum in a Patient With COVID-19 and Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome Without Pneumothorax

Cureus. 2023 May 28;15(5):e39593. doi: 10.7759/cureus.39593. eCollection 2023 May.

Authors

Kartik K Goswami¹, Rakesh Kumar², Sanjeev K Goswami³

Affiliations

¹ College of Medicine, California Northstate University College of Medicine, Elk Grove, USA.
² Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Stockton Pulmonary Doctors, Stockton, USA.
³ Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, St. Joseph's Medical Center, Stockton, USA.

Abstract

We present a case report of pneumoperitoneum, pneumomediastinum, and subcutaneous emphysema in a patient with COVID-19 pneumonia-causing acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) without any pneumothorax occurring. Pneumothorax, pneumomediastinum, and subcutaneous emphysema are known complications of barotrauma due to positive pressure from mechanical ventilation which is necessary for patients suffering from a severe case of COVID-19. In our literature search, we could not find any reported case of pneumoperitoneum without pneumothorax occurring. Our case is an important addition to the literature presenting a rare complication of mechanical ventilation in patients with ARDS.

Keywords: ards; covid-19; covid-19 complications; pneumoperitoneum; pneumothorax (ptx); pulmonary barotrauma; pulmonology; rare; sob - shortness of breath; ventilator.

Publication types

Case Reports