Neumomediastino espontáneo en un paciente con COVID-19. Reporte de caso.: Spontaneous pneumomediastinum in patients with COVID-19. Case report.

Introduction: Pneumomediastinum is an infrequent and rare pathology. The typical radiological manifestations in patients with SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia consist of the presence of bilateral pulmonary opacities, of peripheral distribution. In a recent series of patients with COVID-19, it indicates that 1% of patients can develop spontaneous pneumomediastinum as a complication, it is generally benign and it is not yet clear that this may be an indicator of worsening. Clinical Case: This is a 43-year-old male patient who presented a 15-day illness characterized by pharyngeal pain, fever, chest pain and respiratory distress, receiving multiple antiviral and antibiotic treatment schemes without response, for which he attended to Rebagliati Hospital where he was found respiratory failure, hypoxemia and sepsis. His tomography was compatible with ground glass infiltrate, areas of bilateral lung consolidation, and pneumomediastinum. It did not require surgical treatment and it evolved favorably to pneumonia with a decrease in inflammatory markers and remission of pneumomediastinum in tomographic control. Conclusion: This report highlights that in COVID-19 infection the pulmonary complications to take into account are bilateral pneumonia, bacterial coinfection, sepsis and spontaneous pneumomediastinum.Introducción: El neumomediastino es una patología poco frecuente y rara. Las manifestaciones radiológicas típicas en los pacientes en neumonía por SARS-CoV-2 consiste en la presencia de opacidades pulmonares bilaterales, de distribución periférica. En una reciente serie de pacientes con COVID-19 indica que el 1% de los pacientes pueden desarrollar neumomediastino espontáneo como complicación, generalmente es de curso benigno y no se aclara aún que ello puede suponer un indicador de agravamiento. Caso Clínico: Se trata de un paciente varón de 43 años que presentó un tiempo de enfermedad de 15 días caracterizado por dolor faríngeo, fiebre, dolor torácico y dificultad respiratoria, recibiendo múltiples esquemas de tratamiento tanto antiviral y antibióticos sin respuesta, por lo que acudió al Hospital Rebagliati donde se le encontró insuficiencia respiratoria, hipoxemia y sepsis. Su tomografía fue compatible con infiltrado en vidrio deslustrado, áreas de consolidación pulmonar bilateral y neumomediastino. No requirió tratamiento quirúrgico y evolucionó favorablemente a la neumonía con disminución de marcadores inflamatorios y remisión de neumomediastino en control tomográfico. Conclusión: Este reporte resalta que en la infección por COVID-19 las complicaciones pulmonares a tener en cuenta son la neumonía bilateral, coinfección bacteriana, sepsis y neumomediastino espontáneo

Global attitudes in the management of acute appendicitis during COVID-19 pandemic: ACIE Appy Study

Background: Surgical strategies are being adapted to face the COVID-19 pandemic. Recommendations on the management of acute appendicitis have been based on expert opinion, but very little evidence is available. This study addressed that dearth with a snapshot of worldwide approaches to appendicitis. Methods: The Association of Italian Surgeons in Europe designed an online survey to assess the current attitude of surgeons globally regarding the management of patients with acute appendicitis during the pandemic. Questions were divided into baseline information, hospital organization and screening, personal protective equipment, management and surgical approach, and patient presentation before versus during the pandemic. Results: Of 744 answers, 709 (from 66 countries) were complete and were included in the analysis. Most hospitals were treating both patients with and those without COVID. There was variation in screening indications and modality used, with chest X-ray plus molecular testing (PCR) being the commonest (19\ub78 per cent). Conservative management of complicated and uncomplicated appendicitis was used by 6\ub76 and 2\ub74 per cent respectively before, but 23\ub77 and 5\ub73 per cent, during the pandemic (both P < 0\ub7001). One-third changed their approach from laparoscopic to open surgery owing to the popular (but evidence-lacking) advice from expert groups during the initial phase of the pandemic. No agreement on how to filter surgical smoke plume during laparoscopy was identified. There was an overall reduction in the number of patients admitted with appendicitis and one-third felt that patients who did present had more severe appendicitis than they usually observe. Conclusion: Conservative management of mild appendicitis has been possible during the pandemic. The fact that some surgeons switched to open appendicectomy may reflect the poor guidelines that emanated in the early phase of SARS-CoV-2