<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<sec><h3>Background and aims</h3>
<p>To explore the incidence and risk factors, as well as mortality, in critically ill COVID-19 patients who developed pneumothorax (PTX) and/or pneumomediastinum (PNM).</p>
</sec>
<sec><h3>Methods</h3>
<p>A retrospective cohort study was undertaken to analyse data of all patients with moderate to severe COVID-19 disease who were either RTPCR positive or had a clinico-radiological diagnosis. The exposure group consisted of COVID-19 patients who presented with PTX/PNM, whereas the non-exposure group consisted of patients who did not develop PTX and/or PNM during the stay.</p>
</sec>
<sec><h3>Results</h3>
<p>Incidence of PTX/PNM was observed to be 1.9% among critically ill COVID-19 patients. 94.4% (17/18) of patients in the PTX group received positive pressure ventilation (PPV); the majority of these patients were on non-invasive ventilation when they developed PTX/PNM; only one patient was receiving conventional oxygen therapy. COVID-19 patients who developed PTX/PNM had 2.7 times higher mortality. A mortality rate of 72.2% was observed in COVID-19 patients who developed PTX/PNM.</p>
</sec>
<sec><h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>Development of PTX/PNM in critically ill COVID-19 patients is associated with more severe disease involvement, and institution of PPV is an additional risk factor. Significantly high mortality was observed following PTX/PNM in critically ill COVID-19 patients and is an independent marker of poor prognosis in COVID-19 disease.</p>
</sec>
</abstract>

Background and aims
To explore the incidence and risk factors, as well as mortality, in critically ill COVID-19 patients who developed pneumothorax (PTX) and/or pneumomediastinum (PNM).

Methods
A retrospective cohort study was undertaken to analyse data of all patients with moderate to severe COVID-19 disease who were either RTPCR positive or had a clinico-radiological diagnosis. The exposure group consisted of COVID-19 patients who presented with PTX/PNM, whereas the non-exposure group consisted of patients who did not develop PTX and/or PNM during the stay.

Results
Incidence of PTX/PNM was observed to be 1.9% among critically ill COVID-19 patients. 94.4% (17/18) of patients in the PTX group received positive pressure ventilation (PPV); the majority of these patients were on non-invasive ventilation when they developed PTX/PNM; only one patient was receiving conventional oxygen therapy. COVID-19 patients who developed PTX/PNM had 2.7 times higher mortality. A mortality rate of 72.2% was observed in COVID-19 patients who developed PTX/PNM.

Conclusion
Development of PTX/PNM in critically ill COVID-19 patients is associated with more severe disease involvement, and institution of PPV is an additional risk factor. Significantly high mortality was observed following PTX/PNM in critically ill COVID-19 patients and is an independent marker of poor prognosis in COVID-19 disease.

Pneumothorax in Critically Ill COVID-19 Patients in the Indian Subcontinent

Romanian Journal of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

{"article-title":"Pneumothorax in Critically Ill COVID-19 Patients in the Indian Subcontinent"}

Background and aims
To explore the incidence and risk factors, as well as mortality, in critically ill COVID-19 patients who developed pneumothorax (PTX)...

Pneumothorax in Critically Ill COVID-19 Patients in the Indian Subcontinent

Article Category: Original paper

Published Online: Jan 14, 2023

Page range: 8 - 15

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/rjaic-2022-0002

Keywords
COVID-19, acute respiratory distress syndrome, pneumothorax, pneumomediastinum, positive pressure ventilation

© 2022 Anshul Singh, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Pneumothorax in Critically Ill COVID-19 Patients in the Indian Subcontinent

Article Category: Original paper

Published Online: Jan 14, 2023

Page range: 8 - 15

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/rjaic-2022-0002

KeywordsCOVID-19, acute respiratory distress syndrome, pneumothorax, pneumomediastinum, positive pressure ventilation

© 2022 Anshul Singh, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
COVID-19, acute respiratory distress syndrome, pneumothorax, pneumomediastinum, positive pressure ventilation