An uncommon presentation of COVID-19: concomitant acute pulmonary embolism, spontaneous tension pneumothorax, pneumomediastinum and subcutaneous emphysema: a case report

The presenting symptoms and features of COVID-19 are non-specific and may be extrapulmonary complications such as thrombotic disorders but also pneumothorax, pneumomediastinum and subcutaneous emphysema; which are well-known complications of mechanical ventilation. Nevertheless, pneumothorax and/or...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Pan African medical journal 2021-05, Vol.39 (26)
Main Authors: Belarbi, Zakariae, Brem, Falmata Laouan, Nasri, Siham, Imane, Skiker, Noha, El Ouafi
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
acute pulmonary embolism
case report
covid-19
pneumomediastinum
spontaneous tension pneumothorax
subcutaneous emphysema
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Summary:The presenting symptoms and features of COVID-19 are non-specific and may be extrapulmonary complications such as thrombotic disorders but also pneumothorax, pneumomediastinum and subcutaneous emphysema; which are well-known complications of mechanical ventilation. Nevertheless, pneumothorax and/or pneumomediastinum, could complicate the course of a COVID-19 disease even in the absence of barotrauma involved. Herein, we report the case of a 55-year-old man with a previous history of erythroblastopenia due to thymoma admitted for COVID-19-related acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) who simultaneously developed spontaneous tension pneumothorax, pneumomediastinum, subcutaneous emphysema and acute bilateral pulmonary embolism as presenting features of COVID-19 while on high-flow nasal cannula. This rare case highlights the importance of screening for other coexisting alternative diagnoses at the initial presentation of a patient suspected of COVID-19.
ISSN:1937-8688
1937-8688
DOI:10.11604/pamj.2021.39.26.29178