Zeitschrift für Infektionskrankheiten und Therapie

Abstrakt

Spontaneous Pneumothorax as a Complication of COVID-19

Shreya Podder, Emmanuel Ekanem, Nisha Donthi, Hooman Bakhshi, Joshua Stodghill, Sandeep Khandhar, Amit Mahajan, Mehul Desai

Coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) has been associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Our understanding of the clinical spectrum of disease continues to evolve, with increased reports of multi-organ complications. Spontaneous pneumothorax has emerged as a concerning complication in patients hospitalized with COVID-19. Retrospective studies, which have primarily been case reports and small case series, suggest that pneumothoraces may occur in 1%-2% of patients with COVID-19. This potentially lethal complication is thought to occur in mechanically ventilated patients and those with underlying lung disease. We recently published our institutional experience during the early phase of the pandemic where we identified 22 cases of spontaneous pneumothorax in patients admitted to our health system with COVID-19.