Pneumthoraces in HIV/PCP patients


Q: 38 year old male with AIDS presented to ICU with respiratory failure. Patient few hours after intubation developed pneumothorax. Chest tube is inserted but there was no resolution of pneumothorax. Senior resident inserted second chest tube without any relief. Hypoxia persisted?


A; The development of pneumothorax in the setting of severe PCP in AIDS patient, represents a difficult problem to manage, and patients may require multiple chest tubes or even surgical interventions. Mortality is very high.