A Case of Spontaneous Pneumothorax in Covid-19 Pneumonia

Author(s): Suphi Aydin, Gürhan Öz, Ahmet Dumanli, Aydin Balci, Adem Gencer

Coronavirus caused an epidemic in China in December 2019 at an animal market where live and dead animals were sold in Wuhan, China, in Hubei Province. In a short time, this epidemic spread to different continents. This virus has been called the 2019 new coronavirus (2019-nCoV) by the World Health Organization. Unlike both MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV, Covid-19 is the seventh member of the coronavirus family that infects humans. It is characteristic for Covid-19 pneumonia that there are subpleural localized ground glass opacities and numerous irregular areas of consolidation in both lungs and especially in the lower lobes. In this study, we aimed to present a Covid-19 positive patient with cough, high fever, beginning breathlessness and chest pain on the left, accompanied by pneumothorax in the left hemithorax. A 24-year-old male patient was admitted to the emergency department with fever, dry cough, shortness of breath and pain in the left hemithorax. After physical examination and radiological imaging of the patient with good general condition, Covid-19 was hospitalized due to suspicion and pneumothorax in the left hemithorax. Radiographic imaging of the patient revealed pneumothorax on the left and ground-glass opacities in the bilateral lower lobes. The patient underwent tube thoracostomy from the left hemithorax lateral. As a result of the tests, Covid-19 was diagnosed. Treatment of the patient continues. Patients diagnosed with Covid-19 pneumonia and suspicious cases should be followed closely. Physical examination, blood tests and radiological imaging should be done completely. It should be kept in mind that in patients with Covid-19 pneumonia, it may develop in pneumotoacies secondary to lung parenchymal damage. Mortality rates can be reduced in patients with early diagnosis and treatment.