Pulmonary Complications of COVID-19 A case report

• Published in: Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal
• Main Author: Chan W.Y.; Hamid M.T.R.; Lim Y.T.; Ng C.C.; Gowdh N.F.M.; Rahmat K.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Sultan Qaboos University 2022
• Online Access: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85125569916&doi=10.18295%2fsqumj.4.2021.070&partnerID=40&md5=d04e205f7465e2e8f3bc5a361795c7ea

Rapid evolution of pulmonary complications associated with severe COVID-19 pneumonia often pose a management challenge to clinicians especially in the critical care setting. Serial chest imaging enable clinicians to better monitor disease progression and identify potential complications early which may decrease the mortality and morbidity associated with COVID-19. We report a 69-year-old male patient with severe COVID-19 pneumonia who presented to a tertiary referral centre in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in 2020 with multiple pulmonary complications including lung cavitation, bronchopleural fistula, pneumothorax, pneumomediastinum, subcutaneous emphysema and acute pulmonary embolism. Unfortunately, the patient died one month after admission. COVID-19 patients may develop pulmonary complications due to a combination of direct viral lung damage, hypoxaemia and high stress ventilation. Awareness of COVID-19 complications can prompt early diagnosis and timely management to reduce morbidity and mortality. © 2022, Sultan Qaboos University. All rights reserved.