Severe COVID-19 pneumonia complicated by cardiomyopathy and a small anterior pneumothorax

Abstract

Although, cardiac injury, pneumothorax and pneumomediastinum are associated with COVID-19, differentiation of their symptoms and signs from those of COVID-19 itself is challenging. Without a high index of suspicion, cardiomyopathy and anterior pneumothorax are easily missed. These complications may be underdiagnosed in patients with COVID-19. Cardiomyopathy and pneumothorax may cause or exacerbate respiratory failure. If their management is delayed, cardiac arrest can occur. To increase the awareness of these issues, we describe the course and imaging of a 39-year-old woman with severe COVID-19 who developed cardiomyopathy and a small anterior pneumothorax with pneumomediastinum. Transthoracic echocardiography is technically challenging in the presence of anterior pneumothorax. Furthermore, although CT is the gold standard for the diagnosis of pneumothorax, this is not always feasible in critically ill patients. Lateral decubitus chest X-rays and lung ultrasound may facilitate the diagnosis of pneumothorax at the bedside of patients with COVID-19.