Spontaneous pneumothorax during the recovery phase of coronavirus disease-19 Pneumonia

Abstract

There is not enough information about short- and long-term complications of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection, following treatment. Pneumothorax due to barotrauma after adult respiratory distress syndrome has been observed in some viral infections. However, spontaneous pneumothorax occurring after treatment is uncommon. We report a case of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), who presented to the emergency department with pneumothorax 1 month after receiving treatment for COVID-19 infection. The patient had shortness of breath starting 3 weeks after discharge. He had a history of hospitalization due to a COPD attack within the past year. He was diagnosed as pneumothorax with radiological imaging.

Keywords

• chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
• coronavirus disease 2019
• pneumothorax