RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Pneumomediastinum as a complication of COVID-19 pneumonia – self-experience study
JF European Respiratory Journal
JO Eur Respir J
FD European Respiratory Society
SP PA437
DO 10.1183/13993003.congress-2021.PA437
VO 58
IS suppl 65
A1 Ivan Novakov
A1 Filip Shterev
A1 Silviya Novakova
YR 2021
UL http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/58/suppl_65/PA437.abstract
AB Introduction: Pneumomediastinum, defined as the presence of free air into the mediastinum, is a rare thoracic pathological condition. The aim of this research is to present pneumomediastinum as a complication of COVID-19 pneumonia, based on our first surveillance.Materials and Methods: We present three patients (hospitalized from August to December 2020) with COVID-19 pneumonia and pneumomediastinum: a 78-year-old woman and two men (aged: 58 and 75 years). The diagnosis of COVID-19 was carried out by real-time reverse transcriptive polymerase chain reaction. Pneumonia and pneumomediastinum were established by X-Ray and chest computed tomography.Results: The presenting woman developed pneumomediastinum on 12th day of mechanical ventilation (due to state of acute respiratory distress syndrome) with exitus on the 23rd day. For the two men, COVID-19 pneumonia was treated without intensive respiratory support [the 58-year-old man: pneumomediastinum was observed on the 16th day of coronavirus infection with exitus on the 31st day; the 75-year-old patient: pneumomediastinum developed on the 18th day and the patient was discharged after 39 days].Conclusion: With this research we present a rare complication of COVID-19 pneumonia - pneumomediatinum, with two forms: without precipitating factor (spontaneous) and with precipitating factor (eg. mechanical ventilation). Due to the limited number of reported cases, the role of pneumomediastinum as a risk factor for a patient’s death in COVID-19 pneumonia is still debatable.FootnotesCite this article as: European Respiratory Journal 2021; 58: Suppl. 65, PA437.This abstract was presented at the 2021 ERS International Congress, in session “Prediction of exacerbations in patients with COPD”.This is an ERS International Congress abstract. No full-text version is available. Further material to accompany this abstract may be available at www.ers-education.org (ERS member access only).