Spontaneous pneumomediastinum in COVID-19 patients. Case series

ABSTRACT

Spontaneous pneumomediastinum is defined as the presence of free air within the mediastinum without an apparent cause such as chest trauma. It is a benign, self-limiting condition that is conservatively treated. Clinical diagnosis is based on two symptoms chest pain and dyspnea;and on a particular sign subcutaneous emphysema. It has been reported in patients with influenza A (H1N1) and severe acute respiratory syndrome;however, it has been rarely observed in COVID-19 patients. In this work, we describe six male patients with COVID-19, aged between 27 and 82 years, who presented with spontaneous pneumomediastinum and subcutaneous emphysema;both conditions were completely resorbed with conservative management.