Hamman Syndrome Secondary to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Infection: A Case Report

Abstract

Introduction: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection is a public health emergency. A rare complication of this infection is spontaneous pneumomediastinum, also known as Hamman syndrome. Case report: A 58-year-old hypertensive and diabetic male presented with flu-like symptoms and respiratory failure and was subjected to orotracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation.Extensive subcutaneous emphysema and chest asymmetry were observed. Chest computed tomography also revealed a pneumomediastinum with extensive subcutaneous emphysema. The patient progressed with reduced ventilatory capacity and hemodynamic deterioration before subsequently dying. Discussion: Hamman syndrome is a marker of poor prognosis denoting worse outcomes among patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection.