PMC10493416_01
CT scan showed multiple cavitary infiltrates in both lungs on admission.
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fig1
A chest computed tomography (CT) scan conducted after her admission revealed multifocal pulmonary opacities and cavitations (Figure 1).
DAY 4, the chest X-ray indicating tension pneumothorax and the corresponding EIT ventilation image, showing a significant decrease in ventilation in the left lung. DAY 5, chest X-ray (at a PEEP of 6 cmH2O) shows left lung reopening after transthoracic drainage, but right lung atelectasis. At a PEEP of 15 cmH2O, the right lung was better ventilated compared to that at 12 cmH2O (well ventilated regions in light blue in EIT). DAY 11, improvement in exudation and atelectasis, the left side chest drain has been removed, and the homogeneity of ventilation in both lungs has been improved compared to the previous status.
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fig2
On Day 4 after ICU admission, she developed a left-sided tension pneumothorax (Figure 2) and received immediate emergency decompression with a chest drain. The chest X-ray displayed diffuse exudation in both lungs and significant atelectasis on the right side (Figure 2). Remarkably, within 10 min of increasing the PEEP from 12 to 15 cmH2O (Figure 2), significant recruitment in the right lung was observed without an increase in the volume of air leakage.