Spontaneous pneumothorax complicating COVID-19 pneumonia in a patient having silicosis

Abstract

Spontaneous pneumothorax is a very uncommon occurrence in patients having coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pneumonia. It is mostly seen due to barotrauma in patients receiving mechanical ventilation. Although it may occur at different courses of COVID pneumonia and in patients with no underlying lung disease, it has been seen in patients having underlying asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and bronchiectasis. This report describes spontaneous pneumothorax in a silicosis patient during the course of COVID-19 pneumonia with successful outcomes. Possible mechanism of pneumothorax in COVID-19 pneumonia and contributing the role of silicosis is also mentioned with the importance of detecting such complications in time to reduce mortality in such patients.

Keywords

• coronavirus disease 2019 pneumonia
• pneumothorax
• silicosis