Radiology Case Reports (Dec 2021)

Spontaneous pneumomediastinum: A collaborative sequelae between COVID‐19 and self‐inflicted lung injury ‐ A case report and literature review

  • Abdul Rahman Al Armashi, MD,
  • Francisco J. Somoza-Cano, MD,
  • Kanchi Patell, MD,
  • Mohamed Homeida, MD,
  • Omkar Desai, MD,
  • Anas Al Zubaidi, MD,
  • Basel Altaqi, MD,
  • Keyvan Ravakhah, MD

Journal volume & issue
Vol. 16, no. 12
pp. 3655 – 3658

Abstract

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Spontaneous pneumomediastinum is an infrequent complication of COVID-19. The mechanism is still unknown and thought to be related to patient self-inflicted lung injury. Our patient is a 49-year-old male who presented with shortness of breath and cough. A COVID-19 Polymerase Chain Reaction was positive. He required a high-flow nasal cannula, but he did not demand mechanical ventilation. Computed tomography angiography scan of the chest revealed pneumomediastinum. He was managed conservatively, and a complete recovery was achieved. This case highlights the emerging association of COVID-19, patient self-inflicted lung injury, and pneumomediastinum. Furthermore, spontaneous pneumomediastinum should be suspected even in patients who were not mechanically ventilated.

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