Pneumomediastinum Associated with COVID-19: A Case Series

Abstract

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by the new coronavirus SARSCoV-2, is an infectious disease that has caused an increase in hospitalizations for pneumonia; the spectrum of clinical presentation is variable. One such presentation, pneumomediastinum (PM), is defined as the presence of air or some other gas in the mediastinum. It is a rare condition, usually benign and self-limited; it has been seen in patients with COVID-19. Although most cases are, as explained above, self limited and in addition, can be managed conservatively, close monitoring is recommended, as PM can cause life-threatening hemodynamic and respiratory disturbances. We present a case series of 4 patients with SARS CoV-2 infection, in whom PM was found, and who were admitted to the Regional Hospital of High Specialty of the Yucatan Peninsula during the period of May 2020 through August 2020.