Are Spontaneous Pneumomediastinum and Subcutaneous Emphysema Indicators of Poor Prognosis in Covid-19 Patients?

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic impact of rare conditions, namely spontaneous pneumomediastinum and subcutaneous emphysema, in patients with COVID-19. A retrospective study was conducted to assess a total of 58 adult patients with COVID-19 pneumonia who developed or did not develop spontaneous pneumomediastinum and subcutaneous emphysema between March 2020 and January 2022. The presence of pneumomediastinum and subcutaneous emphysema, along with factors such as age over 70, comorbidities, and length of stay in the intensive care unit, showed a statistically significant association with increased mortality compared to patients who did not develop these conditions (p < 0.05). Advanced age (over 70), longer stays in the intensive care unit, presence of comorbidities, and higher mortality rates were found to hurt the prognosis of COVID-19 patients.