OUT OF THIN AIR: A CASE OF SEVERE SUBCUTANEOUS EMPHYSEMA, PNEUMOMEDIASTINUM, AND PNEUMOTHORAX ASSOCIATED WITH COVID-19

ABSTRACT

SESSION TITLE COVID-19 Case Report Posters 3 SESSION TYPE Case Report Posters PRESENTED ON 10/19/2022 1245 pm - 0145 pm INTRODUCTION: One of the greatest challenges of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has been deciphering its unique properties, such as the propensity to infect and damage lung epithelium, thereby increasing susceptibility to pulmonary complications.(1, 2) A 2020 cohort study comparing patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) from COVID-19 and ARDS from other causes showed a significantly higher rate of subcutaneous emphysema and pneumomediastinum in the COVID-19 group, suggesting these diagnoses may be due to direct viral damage rather than exposure to positive pressure alone.(3) Presented here is a patient with no underlying lung pathology who was diagnosed with COVID-19 and developed severe subcutaneous emphysema, pneumomediastinum, and pneumothorax. CASE PRESENTATION A 74 year old male with a history of hypertension presented to the emergency room with a 5-day history of difficulty breathing, cough, fever, chills, and weakness. He tested positive for COVID-19, required non-invasive positive pressure ventilation (NIPPV), and was started on ceftriaxone, doxycycline, and daily dexamethasone. He received a five-day course of remdesivir and one dose of convalescent plasma. By day 9, a chest x-ray revealed a left apical pneumothorax, bilateral subcutaneous emphysema, and pneumomediastinum. On day 12, his respiratory status deteriorated, necessitating invasive mechanical ventilation. A chest CT showed extensive subcutaneous emphysema involving the chest, supraclavicular and axillary regions, and abdominal wall, as well as extensive pneumomediastinum and a moderate left pneumothorax. A left-sided thoracostomy tube was placed and he was proned per ICU protocol. He required placement of a second left-sided chest tube due to persistent worsening pneumothorax. On day 28, despite all aggressive measures, he expired from acute hypoxemia. DISCUSSION: Although this patient was exposed to NIPPV, the severe degree of lung pathology was inconsistent with the amount of positive pressure administered. Furthermore, he lacked underlying pulmonary disease that would compromise his lung compliance to this magnitude. Combining evidence that COVID-19 can cause epithelial lung damage, the patient's absence of pulmonary risk factors, and his severe degree of lung damage incongruent with his exposure to positive pressure, is reasonable to extrapolate that a significant portion of his lung pathology was a result of direct damage from COVID-19. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with COVID-19 may be at higher risk for the development of subcutaneous emphysema, pneumomediastinum, and pneumothorax, likely due to direct viral effect. Lung damage seen may be disproportionate to exposure of positive pressure and may also be seen in the absence of any underlying pulmonary comorbidities. Awareness of this observed pathophysiology may help guide clinicians to optimize ventilator management as well as anticipate potential complications. Reference #1 Hu B, Guo H, Zhou P, Shi ZL. Characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 [published correction appears in Nat Rev Microbiol. 2022 Feb 23;]. Nat Rev Microbiol. 2021;19(3)141-154. doi10.1038/s41579-020-00459-7 Reference #2 Miró Ò, Llorens P, Jiménez S, et al. Frequency, Risk Factors, Clinical Characteristics, and Outcomes of Spontaneous Pneumothorax in Patients With Coronavirus Disease 2019 A Case-Control, Emergency Medicine-Based Multicenter Study. Chest. 2021;159(3)1241-1255. doi10.1016/j.chest.2020.11.013 Reference #3 Lemmers DHL, Abu Hilal M, Bnà C, et al. Pneumomediastinum and subcutaneous emphysema in COVID-19 barotrauma or lung frailty?. ERJ Open Res. 2020;6(4)00385-2020. Published 2020 Nov 16. doi10.1183/23120541.00385-2020 DISCLOSURES No relevant relationships by Shanaz Azad No relevant relationships by Sarah Monaghan No relevant relationships by Brandon Nance No relevant relationships by Samantha Peterson