Management of Bilateral Spontaneous Pneumothorax Related to COVID-19 Infection

Luis Argote Greene, Rachel Gardner, Aaron Tipton, Matthew Janko, Mohammad Usman, Philip Linden, Christopher Towe, Stephanie Worrell, Auctores Publishing LLC
2021 Journal of Clinical Surgery and Research  
Spontaneous pneumothorax is a rare but potentially fatal complication of coronavirus infection and COVID-19 pneumonia. Data is limited to guide clinicians in the setting of spontaneous pneumothorax when conservative management fails and operative intervention is required. We report the clinical course and operative strategy for a patient who presented with sequential bilateral spontaneous pneumothorax after being diagnosed with severe COVID-19 pneumonia. Conservative management with bilateral
more » ... be thoracostomies failed to resolve persistent alveolar-pleural fistulae, and ultimately the patient recovered after synchronous bilateral VATS blebectomies in the operating room. The timing and treatment of spontaneous pneumothorax requires follow-up education and surveillance for patients with this disease, as lack of prompt treatment outside the hospital could increase patient mortality. Spontaneous pneumothorax is a concern in patients who re-present with recurrent symptoms after COVID-19 diagnosis. When conservative treatment fails, surgery can safely be performed in COVID-19 patients with simultaneous bilateral pneumothorax with full functional recovery.
doi:10.31579/2768-2757/022 fatcat:utwkhsp6rjgtpm4m6pwah6j7hy