tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
Radiol Case Rep
. 2023 Mar;18(3):903-906.
doi: 10.1016/j.radcr.2022.11.075. Epub 2022 Dec 22.
Life-threatening pneumothorax after release from isolation with COVID-19 pneumonia
Kyoko Yagyu[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Yuzo Miki[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Hidenori Nakagawa[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Seiichi Shoji[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Michinori Shirano[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Kiyoko Amo[SUP] 3 [/SUP]
Affiliations
Abstract
Pneumothorax was previously considered as a complication of severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pneumonia. However, it is now known that pneumothorax can develop in other cases. Here, we describe the case of a patient who developed tension pneumothorax after release from isolation from COVID-19 pneumonia. The patient was admitted to our hospital with severe COVID-19 pneumonia on the 10th day after onset. Ventilatory management was carried out on the first day of admission; however, the patient was weaned off the next day. The treatment course was uneventful. On the morning of discharge from the hospital, the patient experienced sudden dyspnea. Chest radiography revealed a large left-tension pneumothorax with a mediastinal shift to the right. As this finding required immediate attention, a chest tube was inserted. Chest computed tomography (CT) showed an airspace in the left thoracic cavity and subpleural thin-walled cystic lesions, such as bullae in the left lobe. One month later, chest CT showed resolution of the cystic lesions. The development of pneumothorax in COVID-19 pneumonia should be considered not only in cases of severe illness, but also after release from isolation. Recently, revisions to measures against COVID-19 have been considered worldwide, including shortening of the isolation period and reviewing the identification of all cases. This is an educational report demonstrating that life-threatening pneumothorax may develop after release from isolation due to COVID-19 pneumonia.
Keywords: Bulla; COVID-19; Isolation; Pneumothorax.
. 2023 Mar;18(3):903-906.
doi: 10.1016/j.radcr.2022.11.075. Epub 2022 Dec 22.
Life-threatening pneumothorax after release from isolation with COVID-19 pneumonia
Kyoko Yagyu[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Yuzo Miki[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Hidenori Nakagawa[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Seiichi Shoji[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Michinori Shirano[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Kiyoko Amo[SUP] 3 [/SUP]
Affiliations
- PMID: 36575750
- PMCID: PMC9779413
- DOI: 10.1016/j.radcr.2022.11.075
Abstract
Pneumothorax was previously considered as a complication of severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pneumonia. However, it is now known that pneumothorax can develop in other cases. Here, we describe the case of a patient who developed tension pneumothorax after release from isolation from COVID-19 pneumonia. The patient was admitted to our hospital with severe COVID-19 pneumonia on the 10th day after onset. Ventilatory management was carried out on the first day of admission; however, the patient was weaned off the next day. The treatment course was uneventful. On the morning of discharge from the hospital, the patient experienced sudden dyspnea. Chest radiography revealed a large left-tension pneumothorax with a mediastinal shift to the right. As this finding required immediate attention, a chest tube was inserted. Chest computed tomography (CT) showed an airspace in the left thoracic cavity and subpleural thin-walled cystic lesions, such as bullae in the left lobe. One month later, chest CT showed resolution of the cystic lesions. The development of pneumothorax in COVID-19 pneumonia should be considered not only in cases of severe illness, but also after release from isolation. Recently, revisions to measures against COVID-19 have been considered worldwide, including shortening of the isolation period and reviewing the identification of all cases. This is an educational report demonstrating that life-threatening pneumothorax may develop after release from isolation due to COVID-19 pneumonia.
Keywords: Bulla; COVID-19; Isolation; Pneumothorax.