Indian Journal of Critical Care Case Report

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VOLUME 3 , ISSUE 2 ( March-April, 2024 ) > List of Articles

CASE REPORT

A Case of Traumatic Pneumatocele: A Challenging Road to Recovery

Arpitha Chandrashekar, Pooja P Sarada, Padmakumar V Arayamparambil, Garud S Chandan, Manjunath Ganesh

Keywords : Alveolopleural fistula, Case report, Traumatic pneumatocele, Venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation

Citation Information : Chandrashekar A, Sarada PP, Arayamparambil PV, Chandan GS, Ganesh M. A Case of Traumatic Pneumatocele: A Challenging Road to Recovery. 2024; 3 (2):38-40.

DOI: 10.5005/jp-journals-11006-0096

License: CC BY-NC 4.0

Published Online: 15-03-2024

Copyright Statement:  Copyright © 2024; The Author(s).


Abstract

Blunt chest trauma is commonly associated with pulmonary contusion, whose consequences can vary based on the mechanism of injury. Deceleration injuries cause parenchymal laceration and can lead to cavities called primary traumatic pneumatocele or pseudocyst which are mostly managed conservatively. Here is a case of a 18-year-old male with traumatic pneumatocele following road traffic accident complicated by acute respiratory distress syndrome and multidrug-resistant (MDR) infection. He required multiple proning sessions and underwent lobectomy, following which he required venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV-ECMO) and a prolonged intercostal drain for persistent alveolopleural fistula. As critical care physicians, it is important to be aware of traumatic pneumatocele, its identification and differentiation from other infective etiologies and various complications along with its management.

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