Spontaneous pneumomediastinum in COVID-19

• Published in: BMJ case reports Vol. 13; no. 5; p. e236519
• Main Authors: Mohan, Vinuta, Tauseen, Rana Ahmed
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BMJ Publishing Group LTD 25-05-2020; BMJ Publishing Group
• Subjects: Betacoronavirus; Case reports; Coronavirus Infections - complications; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; Emergency Service, Hospital; Emphysema; Humans; Images In; Infections; Internal medicine; Intubation; Lung - diagnostic imaging; Male; Mediastinal Emphysema - diagnostic imaging; Mediastinal Emphysema - virology; Middle Aged; Pandemics; Patients; Pneumonia; Pneumonia, Viral - complications; Pneumothorax; Radiography; SARS-CoV-2; Severe acute respiratory syndrome; Subcutaneous Emphysema - diagnostic imaging; Subcutaneous Emphysema - virology; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Ventilation; pleural infection; pneumonia (infectious disease); pneumomediastinum
• ISSN: 1757-790X; 1757-790X
• DOI: 10.1136/bcr-2020-236519

Correspondence to Dr Vinuta Mohan; [e-mail] Description A 49-year-old man presented to the emergency room with 3 days of increasing cough and shortness of breath, both at rest and with minimal exertion, associated with decreased appetite and anosmia. On hospital day #5, the patient reported sudden onset of nausea and vomiting and was noted to have crepitus around his neck and chest area. While most cases are self-limited and managed conservatively, the condition must be monitored carefully as it can lead to life threatening circulatory and respiratory pathology.1 Our patient had no history of pulmonary disease, pneumothorax, or tobacco use.