COVID-19 Patients Presenting With Pneumothorax and Bronchopleural Fistula

Abstract

Background COVID-19 has a variety of presentations and complications, and this study aimed to report the incidence of COVID-19 patients presenting with pneumothorax and bronchopleural fistula (BPF). Methods Documents of hospitalized COVID-19 patients with positive SARS-COV-2 polymerase chain reaction tests were reviewed respectively, and patients presenting with pneumothorax were included. Laboratory data, treatment, and the outcome were also gathered for each patient. Results The incidence of COVID-19 patients presenting with pneumothorax and BPF was 0.93% and 0.62%, respectively. Three cases were determined, and all were male adults. Two had BPF and one received thoracotomy. These 2 patients had significantly elevated inflammatory markers. Patients were treated with antibiotics, corticosteroids, anticoagulants, remdesivir, and tocilizumab. Unfortunately, all expired as 2 patients had a cardiac arrest and one had a multiorgan failure. Conclusions Presenting with pneumothorax among COVID-19 patients is not common but needs appropriate management to prevent further complications. It seems that BPF, as a rarely reported complication of COVID-19, might be linked to the inflammatory storm and indicates poor prognosis.