• TürkMerve ŞatırMŞ0000-0003-4873-3281Department of Thoracic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Gazi University, Ankara, Turkey, Irmak Akarsu, Ismail Tombul, Aykut Kankoç, Nur Dilvin Özkan, Elgun Valiyev, Muhammet Sayan, Ali Çelik, Ismail Cüneyt Kurul, Olgun Kadir Arıbaş, and Abdullah Irfan Taştepe.
• Department of Thoracic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Gazi University, Ankara, Turkey
• Turk J Med Sci. 2021 Dec 13; 51 (6): 282228262822-2826.

Background/AimAs the number of case reports related to the new type of coronavirus (COVID-19) increases, knowledge of and experience with the virus and its complications also increase. Pleural complications are one relevant issue. We aimed in this study to analyze pleural complications, such as pneumothorax, pneumomediastinum, and empyema, in patients hospitalized with the diagnosis of COVID-19 pneumonia.Materials And MethodsThe files of patients who have pleural complications of COVID-19 pneumonia and were consulted about thoracic surgery between March 2020 and December 2020 were retrospectively reviewed. The data of the patients were analyzed according to age, sex, length of stay, treatment method for pleural complications, mortality, severity of COVID-19 pneumonia, tube thoracostomy duration, and presence of a mechanical ventilator.ResultsA total of 31 patients fulfilling the inclusion criteria were included in the study. There were 11 female (35.5%) and 20 male (65.5%) patients. The most common complication was pneumothorax in 20 patients (65%). The median duration of hospitalization was 22 days and the mortality rate was 71%. Mortality was significantly higher in patients on mechanical ventilation (p = 0.04).ConclusionThe mortality rate is very high in patients with pleural complications of COVID-19 pneumonia. Pneumothorax is a fatal complication in critically ill patients with COVID-19 pneumonia.

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