SHM Converge Scientific Abstract ePoster Gallery-Cavitary Lung Lesions and Bilateral Pneumothoraces in a Healthy Patient Following Covid-19 Pneumonia

Pdf Summary

This case report describes a 41-year-old unvaccinated man with obesity who developed unusual pulmonary complications shortly after recovering from COVID-19 pneumonia. He was readmitted 11 days after his initial diagnosis, presenting with productive cough, hemoptysis, fatigue, fever, hypotension, and tachypnea. Initial labs, chest X-ray, and head CT were unremarkable, but chest CT revealed a new cavitary lesion in the left lower lobe, prompting empiric treatment for post-viral pneumonia.<br /><br />During hospitalization, his condition worsened. Three days after admission, he became acutely tachycardic and hypoxic, and repeat imaging showed large bilateral pneumothoraces. Bilateral pigtail chest tubes were placed successfully. Over the next 10 days, additional cavitary pulmonary lesions developed. Infectious workup was negative, ceftriaxone was discontinued, and the chest tubes were eventually removed. A follow-up CT scan two weeks later showed improvement in the cavitary nodules.<br /><br />The report emphasizes that although spontaneous pneumothorax has been reported in COVID-19 patients, cavitary lung lesions are much less common. The authors suggest that COVID-19 may cause endothelial injury, thrombosis, and fibrotic or necrotic damage that weakens lung structure, leading to cavitation and pneumothorax. They conclude that clinicians should maintain suspicion for new or persistent respiratory symptoms in patients recovering from COVID-19, even if they are otherwise relatively healthy, because delayed pulmonary sequelae can be serious and unexpected.

Asset Subtitle

Kelsey Hilaire

Meta Tag

Author List Kelsey Hilaire, Michelle L. Bailey, Prayag Patel

Category Clinical Vignettes

Concept COVID-19

Concept Pulmonary Complication

Concept Cavitary Lung Lesion

Concept Pneumothorax

Distinguished Non-Finalist

Presenter Organization Ascension St Vincent Indianapolis

Presenting Author Kelsey Hilaire

Track Adult

Keywords

COVID-19

pneumonia

cavitary lung lesion

pneumothorax

hemoptysis

post-viral complications

bilateral chest tubes

pulmonary cavitation

respiratory sequelae

case report

COVID-19

Pulmonary Complication

Cavitary Lung Lesion

Pneumothorax