Pneumothorax in a COVID-19 Pneumonia Patient without Underlying Risk Factors

Takafumi Yamaya; Tomohisa Baba; Eri Hagiwara; Satoshi Ikeda; Takashi Niwa; Takaaki Kitayama; Kota Murohashi; Katsuyuki Higa; Yozo Sato; Takashi Ogura

doi:10.2169/internalmedicine.5731-20

CASE REPORTS

Pneumothorax in a COVID-19 Pneumonia Patient without Underlying Risk Factors

Takafumi Yamaya, Tomohisa Baba, Eri Hagiwara, Satoshi Ikeda, Takashi Niwa, Takaaki Kitayama, Kota Murohashi, Katsuyuki Higa, Yozo Sato, Takashi Ogura

Author information

Takafumi Yamaya
Department of Respiratory Medicine, Kanagawa Cardiovascular and Respiratory Center, Japan
Tomohisa Baba
Department of Respiratory Medicine, Kanagawa Cardiovascular and Respiratory Center, Japan
Eri Hagiwara
Department of Respiratory Medicine, Kanagawa Cardiovascular and Respiratory Center, Japan
Satoshi Ikeda
Department of Respiratory Medicine, Kanagawa Cardiovascular and Respiratory Center, Japan
Takashi Niwa
Department of Respiratory Medicine, Kanagawa Cardiovascular and Respiratory Center, Japan
Takaaki Kitayama
Department of Respiratory Medicine, Kanagawa Cardiovascular and Respiratory Center, Japan
Kota Murohashi
Department of Respiratory Medicine, Kanagawa Cardiovascular and Respiratory Center, Japan
Katsuyuki Higa
Department of Respiratory Medicine, Kanagawa Cardiovascular and Respiratory Center, Japan
Yozo Sato
Department of Respiratory Medicine, Kanagawa Cardiovascular and Respiratory Center, Japan
Takashi Ogura
Department of Respiratory Medicine, Kanagawa Cardiovascular and Respiratory Center, Japan

Keywords: bulla, corticosteroids, COVID-19 pneumonia, organizing pneumonia, pneumothorax, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2

JOURNAL OPEN ACCESS

2020 Volume 59 Issue 22 Pages 2921-2925

DOI https://doi.org/10.2169/internalmedicine.5731-20

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Abstract

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been recognized as a worldwide pandemic. However, the clinical course of COVID-19 remains poorly characterized. Although some cases of pneumothorax have been reported, they all had pulmonary complications or were managed with mechanical ventilation. We herein report a case of pneumothorax that developed even though the patient had no pulmonary underlying diseases and had never been managed with mechanical ventilation. In the present case, a lung bulla was found on chest computed tomography during treatment for COVID-19. We concluded that COVID-19 affected the formation of the lung bulla and induced the complication of pneumothorax.

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