[Pneumomediastinum in patients with a novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19)]. / Pnevmomediastinum u bol'nykh s koronavirusnoi infektsiei (COVID-19).

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To determine the optimal management of pneumomediastinum in patients with a novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19). MATERIAL AND METHODS: There were 14 patients with pneumomediastinum and COVID-19 infection without mechanical ventilation. We discussed the world data on pneumomediastinum in patients with coronavirus infection. RESULTS: Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the annual number of own observations of spontaneous pneumomediastinum did not exceed 1-2 patients. The mechanism of pneumomediastinum is explained by the Macklin effect. COVID-19 pandemic in the Russian Federation was followed by increase of the number of patients with pneumomediastinum up to 2.4% of the total number of patients in the thoracic department. In this sample, pneumomediastinum occurred at all variants of the course of coronavirus infection. The timing of pneumomediastinum ranged from 2 to 18 (median 14) days after clinical manifestation of COVID-19. In 2 out of 14 cases, pneumomediastinum was the main symptom of coronavirus infection at admission. One patient had a combination of pneumomediastinum and pneumothorax. In 6 cases, pneumomediastinum was stable and regressed under conservative therapy. Eight patients underwent Razumovsky suprajugular mediastinotomy. There were no postoperative deaths. Recurrent pneumomediastinum was noted in one patient. CONCLUSION: The causes of pneumomediastinum in some patients with coronavirus infection, peculiarities of diagnosis and treatment and clarification of indications for invasive interventions require further study.