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

Authors

• Erika Poggiali Emergency Department, Guglielmo da Saliceto Hospital, Piacenza, Italy
• Andrea Vercelli Emergency Department, Guglielmo da Saliceto Hospital, Piacenza, Italy
• Teresa Iannicelli Ospedale Guglielmo da Saliceto, Emergency Department, Piacenza, Italy
• Valentina Tinelli Ospedale Guglielmo da Saliceto, Emergency Department, Piacenza, Italy
• Laura Celoni Ospedale Guglielmo da Saliceto, Emergency Department, Piacenza, Italy
• Andrea Magnacavallo Ospedale Guglielmo da Saliceto, Emergency Department, Piacenza, Italy

erikapoggiali2@gmail.com

Keywords

Abstract

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.