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. 2021 Nov 1;34(11):31-33.
doi: 10.1097/01.JAA.0000794992.99292.48.

Understanding the course of COVID-19-induced pneumomediastinum

Rocco Panico  1 , Jenny Cai, Christopher A Butts, Jennifer Q To
Affiliations

Understanding the course of COVID-19-induced pneumomediastinum

Rocco Panico et al. JAAPA. .

Abstract

Since its discovery, COVID-19 has infected nearly 112 million people and caused about 2.5 millions deaths worldwide. Our understanding of the clinical presentation and complications of COVID-19 is still evolving. Bilateral pulmonary ground-glass opacities on imaging have become characteristic in the diagnosis of COVID-19, but pneumomediastinum has now also been reported in some patients with COVID-19. Reports on the overall prognosis for these patients are conflicting and little information exists regarding long-term complications. This article describes the clinical course of a patient who did not need mechanical ventilation but developed spontaneous pneumomediastinum.

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Figures

FIGURE 1.
FIGURE 1.
Admission chest radiograph (A) showing bilateral infiltrates. Chest radiograph on hospital day 21, revealing subcutaneous emphysema and pneumothorax at the left lung apex (B, box).
FIGURE 2.
FIGURE 2.
The patient's chest CT (top row, axial views; bottom row, coronal views) on hospital day 11 (A), revealing bilateral infiltrates consistent with COVID-19 pneumonia. Chest CT on hospital day 21 (B), showing pneumomediastinum (red arrows) and a small apical right pneumothorax (black arrow) and bilateral infiltrates. At 12-week follow-up (C), the bilateral infiltrates and pneumomediastinum have resolved.
Box 1
Box 1
No caption available.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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