Delayed Spontaneous Bilateral Pneumothorax in a Previously Healthy Nonventilated COVID-19 Patient

Abstract

Background: The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a recent viral outbreak that has rapidly spread to multiple countries worldwide. Little is known about COVID-19 infection-related complications.

Case report: We report a patient who developed spontaneous bilateral pneumothorax after a recent COVID-19 infection. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of spontaneous bilateral pneumothorax in a patient with recent confirmed severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 infection without any risk factors for pneumothorax and who had not received positive pressure ventilation. WHY SHOULD AN EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN BE AWARE OF THIS?: There may be a possible correlation between a recent COVID-19 infection and the development of spontaneous pneumothorax. The diagnosis of spontaneous pneumothorax should be considered in any patient with known or suspected recent COVID-19 infection who presents with new acute symptoms consistent with pneumothorax or sudden clinical deterioration.

Keywords: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; complication; pneumothorax; spontaneous pneumothorax.