Frequency and Risk Factors for Spontaneous Pneumomediastinum in COVID-19 Patients

Abstract

Background: Spontaneous pneumomediastinum (SPM) is an uncommon condition in COVID-19 patients. No information about outcome or risk factors is available at the time. The aim of this research is to report on the frequency and risk factors of spontaneous pneumomediastinum in COVID-19 patients.Materials and Methods: An unmatched case-control study was carried out in a tertiary health-care facility for patients with COVID-19. Electronic files were reviewed to identify patients with confirmed COVID-19 infection by RT-PCR. Univariate analysis was used to describe demographic data. Mean differences were calculated using the Mann-Whitney test. Frequency and odds ratios were calculated by standard operations.Results: A total of 271 patients were included in the study. Nine patients showed spontaneous pneumomediastinum and four of them presented associated spontaneous pneumothorax. The most common risk factors associated with poor outcomes in COVID-19 patients were not considered as risk factors for spontaneous pneumomediastinum development.Conclusion: Spontaneous pneumomediastinum is an uncommon clinical feature in COVID-19 patients. More research is necessary to formulate statements regarding prevalence, risk factors, and outcome.

Pulmonary barotrauma in COVID-19: A systematic review and meta-analysis

“…Eight studies reported the length of hospitalization (LoH) [ 1 , 9 , 11 , 12 , 14 , 15 , 18 , 21 ]. LoH was longer in COVID-19 patients in all studies than non-barotrauma COVID-19 patients, except Elsaaran H [ 12 ].…”

“…Thirteen studies reported in-hospital mortality [ 1 , 2 , 9 , 10 , 12 , [14] , [15] , [16] , [17] , [18] , [19] , [20] , [21] ]. Total mortality was 58.7% in the barotrauma group compared to 40.6% in the control group.…”

“…The quality of individual articles was evaluated using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) [ 8 ] critical appraisal for cohort studies, case-control studies, and case series (Supplementary file 1, Tables 1–3 ) [ 1 , 2 , [8] , [9] , [10] , [11] , [12] , [13] , [14] , [15] , [16] , [17] , [18] , [19] , [20] ].…”

Pneumomediastinum in patients with COVID-19 undergoing CT pulmonary angiography: a retrospective cohort study

“…The incidence of pneumomediastinum for the entire study period was found to be 4.42%. An incidence of 3.3% (9/271) was found in a study by Rodriguez-Arciniega et al looking at unenhanced CT scans 15. Kangas-Dick et al looked at incidence of pneumomediastinum in a cohort of 346 intubated patients with COVID-19 and found the incidence of 10% 16.…”

“…An incidence of 3.3% (9/271) was found in a study by Rodriguez-Arciniega et al looking at unenhanced CT scans. 15 Kangas-Dick et al looked at incidence of pneumomediastinum in a cohort of 346 intubated patients with COVID-19 and found the incidence of 10%. 16 This is comparable to the incidence of 11.34% (11/97) of pneumomediastinum in our cohort of ventilated (intubated and CPAP/NIV together) patients with COVID-19.…”