Pneumomediastinum in association with Covid-19: A less commonly considered differential diagnosis for worsening respiratory failure.

Abstract

We have reported here two cases of coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) patients aged 29 and 68 years who were diagnosed with pneumomediastinum (PM). PM is a rare complication that is being reported in association with COVID-19. Patients with COVID-19 can present with a variety of etiologies that make them vulnerable to PM. Respiratory complications due to COVID-19 are widely known, and it presents as mild to severe and critical illness. Spontaneous PM is a known complication of COVID-19. Despite seeming to be a lesser-known condition, PM can have a significant impact on disease progression and prognosis. We have presented here two contrasting cases of PM. The first patient was young and with moderate COVID-19 pneumonia and PM, while the second one was an old man with severe COVID-19 pneumonia manifestations. Both patients were diagnosed with PM, but their outcomes were completely different.