부산대학교 도서관

Background. Most elderly pneumothorax patients are treated by nonsurgical procedures. Few papers have been reported on surgery for refractory pneumothorax with COVID-19. Case Presentation. The patient was a 100-year-old man. A cluster of COVID-19 cases had occurred at his facility. He presented with a fever and decreased oxygenation and was taken to the hospital. He was suspected of having COVID-19. A polymerase chain reaction test for SARS-CoV-2 was positive, and chest X-ray revealed right pneumothorax. His COVID-19 symptoms were quite mild and quickly resolved; however, the air leakage of his right lung persisted, and the lungs did not expand. He underwent video-assisted thoracoscopic bullectomy and was discharged from the hospital without complications. In this case, a lung bulla was observed in the right lung, which was expected to have caused the pneumothorax. There have been several reports that COVID-19 causes pneumothorax. Therefore, COVID-19 may have been the cause of the pneumothorax in this case. Conclusion. Although most elderly patients are treated by nonsurgical procedures, surgery should be considered after evaluating the patient's general condition and risk of complications.