RESUMEN
In our study, we examined the effect of COVID-19 vaccination on the incidence of pneumothorax in intensive care patients over age 65. COVID-19 intensive care patients that presented to our department between April 2020 and May 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic were evaluated retrospectively. Patients were divided into two main groups, i.e., before and after the vaccination period. Patients were evaluated retrospectively for the following parameters: Gender, age, side of pneumothorax, mortality, discharge, comorbidity, and additional pleural complications. The total number of patients was 87, i.e., 66 patients before vaccination and 21 patients after vaccination. When patients in the pre- and post-vaccination period were compared, there was a significant difference in the incidence of pneumothorax between the two groups (p<0.05). Pneumothorax was less common after vaccination. When patients with pneumothorax and tube thoracostomy were evaluated according to pre- and post-vaccination mortality, mortality was significantly higher (89%) in the pre-vaccination period (p<0.05). We consider that COVID-19 vaccines used in patients aged over 65 reduced the incidence of pleural complications, especially pneumothorax. We think that mortality due to pneumothorax in patients over 65 years of age was lower during the vaccination period. In addition, we think that bilateral pneumothorax was more common in the non-vaccinated period. As a result, we think that life-threatening pneumothorax and similar complications could be reduced by increasing the number of vaccines made in the COVID-19 pandemic and spreading it around the world.Copyright © 2022, Dr. Mladen Stojanovic University Hospital. All rights reserved.
RESUMEN
INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to retrospectively evaluate pleural complications in patients who were polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-positive for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and admitted to the hospital with COVID-19 pneumonia. METHODS: A total of 164 patients who applied to our hospital between March 2020 and May 2021 with PCR-positive for SARS-CoV-2 were retrospectively evaluated and were followed up and treated in the service or intensive care unit. Pleural complications were detected during the treatment of COVID-19 pneumonia. In the current study, mortality was taken as the death of the patients in the first 30 days after hospitalization. Pleural complications occurring during treatment were classified into two groups: the pneumothorax (PNX) group and the pneumomediastinum (PMN) group. RESULTS: Of the patients, 69 (52.3%) had isolated PNX and 14 (43.7%) had isolated PMN. PNX and subcutaneous emphysema were determined in 50 (37.9%) patients, PMN and subcutaneous emphysema were determined in 13 (40.6%), PMN, PNX, and subcutaneous emphysema were determined in 3 (9.4%), and PMN and PNX were determined in 2 (6.3%) patients. Hydro-PNX was determined in 12 (9.1%) patients, and PNX and empyema were determined in 1 (0.7%) patient. When the relationship between pleural complications occurring during treatment due to COVID-19 pneumonia and mortality was examined, mortality was observed in 14 (43.8%) of the PMN patients and 104 (78.8%) of the PNX patients (p<0.001). When the relationship between gender and mortality was examined, mortality was observed in 75 (65.8%) of the male patients and in 43 (86%) of the female patients (p=0.008). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: As a result, it was found that PNX after positive pressure ventilation increased mortality more than other pleural complications and worsened the prognosis. We think this issue will contribute to the literature in the COVID-19 pandemic and in pandemic diseases that may occur later and cause pleural involvement.
RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: During the COVID-19 pandemic, some factors have led to changes in the management of patients with lung cancer. In our study, we aimed to present our surgical treatment approach to patients with NSCLC during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: Patients who underwent surgery for NSCLC in our thoracic surgery clinic between March 2020 and March 2021 were evaluated retrospectively. The patients operated on were retrospectively evaluated in terms of sex, age, tumor staging, lung resection type, histopathological type, COVID-19 status, length of stay, complications, and mortality. RESULTS: Thirty-five patients, 27 men and 8 women, underwent surgery for lung cancer. The 2 most common types of surgery were lobectomy (in 32 patients) and pneumonectomy (in 3 patients). According to cancer staging based on 8th TNM, 14 patients were stage 2B, 12 patients were stage 2A, and 9 patients were stage 3A. The morbidity rate was 14 %. No postoperative mortality was observed. Nine patients had a history of COVID- 19 before surgery. No significant difference was found in terms of complications in patients with a preoperative history of COVID-19. In the postoperative period, COVID-19 was observed in no patient in our clinic. CONCLUSION: We think that surgical treatments should not be postponed for diseases such as lung cancer, where the mortality rate is high and early diagnosis and treatment are very important. There will be no delay or inadequacy in the treatment of patients if the rules determined during the COVID-19 pandemic and other types of pandemic possibly occurring in the future are followed (Tab. 1, Ref. 23).