COVID-19, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Pneumothorax: A Frightening Triad

We describe the case of a male patient admitted to our emergency department during the Italian COVID-19 epidemic, for progressive worsening dyspnoea. A diagnosis of pneumothorax and diffuse interstitial lung involvement was promptly made by lung ultrasound and confirmed by an HRCT scan. A chest CT s...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Erika Poggiali, Andrea Vercelli, Teresa Iannicelli, Valentina Tinelli, Laura Celoni, Andrea Magnacavallo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SMC MEDIA SRL 2020-06-01
Series:European Journal of Case Reports in Internal Medicine
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.ejcrim.com/index.php/EJCRIM/article/view/1742
Description
Summary:We describe the case of a male patient admitted to our emergency department during the Italian COVID-19 epidemic, for progressive worsening dyspnoea. A diagnosis of pneumothorax and diffuse interstitial lung involvement was promptly made by lung ultrasound and confirmed by an HRCT scan. A chest CT scan also showed diffuse emphysema, as observed in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and small consolidations in the lower lobes, suggestive for COVID-19 pneumonia. A chest tube was immediately inserted in the emergency room with complete resolution of the dyspnoea. A nasopharyngeal swab for 2019-nCoV was positive. Unfortunately, the patient died from COVID-19-related acute respiratory distress syndrome after 48 days of hospitalization.
ISSN:2284-2594