Work

Paraseptal Lucencies Mimicking Emphysema in a Non-smoker With Acute Lung Injury in COVID-19

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: Paraseptal emphysema can be smoking-related but has other causes, including surfactant deficiency, COVID-19, and age. The typical acute chest tomographic findings of COVID-19 include bilateral ground-glass opacities with or without consolidation and interstitial thickening in a peripheral and posterior predominant distribution. Evolution of these findings can occur and ultimately lead to fibrosis. The development of bullae, pneumomediastinum, and pneumothorax can occur as complications of non-invasive or mechanical ventilation. This case report describes incidental paraseptal lucencies that mimicked paraseptal emphysema in a patient with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure secondary to COVID-19 without a prior history of smoking only requiring a high-flow nasal cannula.

Source: Cureus

DOI: 10.7759/cureus.71010

Authors: Sreeja Sanampudi, Margaret Kypreos, Sameer Chabbra, Kiran Batra

Institutions: The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Medical College of Wisconsin

Language: English

Topic: Pneumothorax, Barotrauma, Emphysema

Subfield: Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: diamond

OpenAlex ID: W4403184510