TY  - JOUR
TI  - Pneumothorax and Subcutaneous Emphysema
Evaluation in Patients with COVID-19 in the Intensive
Care Unit
AB  - Objective: Pneumothorax (PNX) and subcutaneous emphysema (SCE) have increased
in importance as a frequently occurring complication. This study aimed to reveal the frequency,
timing, and possible risk factors in patients with PNX and SCE who are followed up with coronavirus
disease-2019 (COVID-19) diagnosis in our tertiary intensive care unit (ICU).
Materials and Methods: All patients with confirmed COVID-19 who were followed up and treated
in our unit between August 8, 2020, and February 20, 2021, in a 16-bed tertiary ICU and who
developed PNX and SCE during their hospitalization were included.
Results: PNX and SCE developed in 16 (9.6%) of 165 patients who were followed up in our ICU due
to COVID-19. Of these 16 patients, 3 (18.8%) survived. The median age of patients was 66.5 years
(interquartile range: 58.5-75.5). Diabetes mellitus was the most common comorbidity in patients
with PNX and SCE. Additionally, 12 (75%) patients had a smoking history. Of 15 (93.8%) patients
who developed PNX, 4 (25%) were bilateral, and SCE developed in 9 (56.3%) patients. Twelve
(75%) patients with PNX and SCE were under invasive mechanical ventilation, 3 (18.8%) under
spontaneous breathing, and 1 (6.2%) under non-invasive mechanical ventilation treatment. The
number of oxygen support days until the time PNX and SCE developed was 9 (6.25-17) days in the
whole group, the median time was 6 days in the survival group and 9 days in the non-survival group.
Conclusion: In the COVID-19 pandemic, complications, such as PNX and SCE, are more frequently
observed (9.5%) than in the general intensive care population and the later period of intensive care
admission (median 9 days). Smoking is defined as a risk factor in most of these patients; however,
increased PNX rates are thought to be related to both COVID-19 pneumonia and parenchymal
damage due to cytokine storms
AU  - Turkyilmaz, Atila
AU  - Öksüz Güngör, Burcu
AU  - KÜÇÜK, Ahmet Oğuzhan
AU  - AYÇIÇEK, OLCAY
AU  - OZLÜ, TEVFIK
AU  - Öztuna, Funda
AU  - PEHLİVANLAR KÜÇÜK, Mehtap
AU  - Bulbul, Yilmaz
DO  - 10.4274/tybd.galenos.2021.30316
PY  - 2021
JO  - Türk Yoğun Bakım Dergisi
VL  - 19
IS  - 1
SN  - 2602-2974
SP  - 95
EP  - 101
DB  - TRDizin
UR  - http://search/yayin/detay/517832
ER  -