Pneumomediastinum, pneumopericardium pneumothorax and subcutaneous emphysema in Iranian COVID-19 patients

Manouchehr Aghajanzadeh; Mohammad Haghighi; Siamak Rimaz; Ali Alavi Fomani; Azita Tangestaninejad; Mohammad Taghi Ashoobi; Yousha Pourahmadi; Mohammad Mojtaba Rohani

doi:10.52547/JCBioR.2.4.201

Authors

Manouchehr Aghajanzadeh Department of Thoracic Surgery, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran
Mohammad Haghighi Anesthesiology Research Center, Department of Anesthesiology, Alzahra Hospital, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0331-1683
Siamak Rimaz Anesthesiology Research Center, Department of Anesthesiology, Alzahra Hospital, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran
Ali Alavi Fomani Inflammatory Lung Diseases Research Center, Department of Internal Medicine, Razi Hospital, School of Medicine, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran
Azita Tangestaninejad Inflammatory Lung Diseases Research Center, Department of Internal Medicine, Razi Hospital, School of Medicine, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran
Mohammad Taghi Ashoobi Inflammatory Lung Diseases Research Center, Department of Internal Medicine, Razi Hospital, School of Medicine, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran
Yousha Pourahmadi Inflammatory Lung Diseases Research Center, Department of Internal Medicine, Razi Hospital, School of Medicine, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran
Mohammad Mojtaba Rohani Department of Radiology, Razi Hospital, Guilan University of Medical Science, Rasht, Iran

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.52547/JCBioR.2.4.201

Keywords:

COVID-19, Subcutaneous emphysema, Spontaneous pneumomediastinum, Pneumopericardium, Pneumothorax

Abstract

Recently, spontaneous pneumomediastinum (PM), pneumopericardium (PP), pneumothorax (PT), and subcutaneous emphysema (SE) were reported as infrequent complications in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients in intensive care (ICU). Here we report these complications in nine Iranian patients of COVID-19. Nine patients with reported PM, PP, PT, and SE in COVID-19 who were hospitalized in Arya hospital, Rasht, Iran, for three months, were followed to record demographic data and clinical characteristics of these patients. In nine PM-developed patients, six cases represented PT, one patient with PP, and four patients with PT and SE. Four patents expired and only five patients survived. PM, PP, PT, and SE are uncommon complications in COVID-19 patients and were reported frequently in male patients. Early diagnosis and treatment could save the patients since these complications are related to poor prognosis and prolonged hospitalization. Patients with mild COVID-19 and mild pulmonary damage have a favorable outcome.