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Updated: Dec 8, 2025

A Novel Rescue Technique for Difficult Intubation and Difficult Ventilation
Published on: January 17, 2011
Expectant management of pneumothorax in intubated COVID-19 positive patients: a case series
Colby Elder1, Sheina Bawa2, Douglas Anderson2
1UPMC Pinnacle Harrisburg, 205 S. Front St. Brady Hall 9th Floor, Room 96, Harrisburg, PA, 17104, USA. elderca@upmc.edu.
Background:
There is an increasing amount of literature describing the pathogenesis of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pneumonia and its associated complications. Historically, a small pneumothorax has been shown to be successfully treated without chest tube insertion, but this management has yet to be proven in COVID-19 pneumonia patients. In addition, pneumothorax in an intubated patient with high positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) provides additional uncertainty with pursuing non-operative management.
Case Presentation:
In this series we report four cases of patients with respiratory distress who tested positive for COVID-19 via nasopharyngeal swab and developed ventilator-induced pneumothoraces which were successfully managed with observation alone.
Conclusions:
Management of patients with COVID-19 pneumonia on positive pressure ventilation who develop small stable pneumothoraces can be safely observed without chest tube insertion.
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