ABSTRACT
Background: Acute respiratory distress syndrome requiring invasive mechanical ventilation may occur in COVID-19 patients. Barotrauma causes clinically severe pneumothorax, necessitating a chest tube thoracostomy. Acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 is aerosolized during the process, hence specific precautions must be taken to minimize exposure risks to health care workers. Objectives: The objective of the study to diagnosis of Tube thoracostomy during the COVID-19 pandemic to detect and diagnose patients who are positive with the virus.Material & Methods:In Bangladesh, researchers from a tertiary care hospital抯 thoracic surgery section did a retrospective analysis. In total, we had 34 participants. All COVID-19 cases requiring thoracic surgery consultation and management that were admitted to the ICU between July 2020 and January 2022 were included in this study. Iatrogenic pneumothorax and other critical cases not associated with COVID-19 were also eliminated.Results:Thirty-four individuals sought thoracic surgery consultation. Pneumothorax (29.4%), traumatic hemothorax (8.8%), hydropneumothorax (5.9%) and extensive pleural effusion were the causes (55.9%). No post-thoracostomy complications. 6 patients died 3 days after tube thoracostomy who were on artificial breathing and both had more than 81 percent lung involvement (fibrosis) confirmed by CT scan of chest. Surviving patients with thoracostomy tube insertion had better survival than those treated conservatively.Conclusions:In COVID-19 disease, non-iatrogenic pneumothorax, subcutaneous and mediastinal emphysema are associated with worse prognosis and outcomes. Pneumothorax may have a better prognosis and outcome than surgical and mediastinal emphysema.