Air leak syndrome in patients with COVID-19

The article describes a series of clinical cases of air leak syndrome in patients suffering from COVID-19 coronavirus infection. The number of observations was 54. The number of men was slightly more than women - 30 versus 24. Qualitative and quantitative characteristics of patients were indicated, including gender, age, degree of radiological changes and the area of lesion of the lung parenchyma by CT. Most patients had III-IV degrees of severity of the lesion. The presence and profile of concomitant pathology are reflected. When analyzing the timing of the air leak syndrome onset, it was revealed that the majority of episodes of air leak syndrome developed at 2-4 weeks from the onset of the disease. The issues of therapeutic measures for air leak syndrome with the participation of thoracic surgeons are considered. The results of treatment are presented. In 2/3 of patients, the air leak syndrome was cured and stopped without the use of invasive procedures. 1/3 of the patients needed chest tube drainage, or/and mediastinal drainage. 6 patients died, 3 men and 3 women. The cause of death was progressive SARS CoV 2-pneumonia with the development of respiratory, and then - multiple organ failure. There were no fatal outcomes attributed to the air leak syndrome. There were no difficulties with ensuring adequate drainage of air retention. Favorable results were achieved by the earliest possible involvement of thoracic surgeons in the treatment of patients with air leak syndrome.