Pneumothorax and mortality in the mechanically ventilated SARS patients: a prospective clinical study

Table 1 Demographic and clinical characteristics according to the presence or absence of pneumothorax

Variable	No pneumothorax	Pneumothorax	p value
Number of patients (%)	36 (88)	5 (12)
Gender (male/female)	26/10	4/1	1
Age, years	76.3 ± 10.4	68.8 ± 18.0	0.46
Body weight, kg	58.5 ± 12.4	57.0 ± 18.2	0.98
APACHE II score	20.7 ± 6.6	26.0 ± 11.8	0.41
Pre-existing comorbidities
Chronic renal insufficiency	4	0	1
Congestive heart failure	9	2	0.59
Diabetes mellitus	15	2	1
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease	5	0	1
Pulmonary tuberculosis	2	2	0.06
Cerebrovascular disease	17	1	0.37
On ICU admission
Baseline lung injury score	1.27 ± 1.04	1.59 ± 0.59	0.35
Baseline respiratory rate	25.32 ± 7.53	36.00 ± 5.10	0.006
Baseline PaO₂/FiO₂ ratio	289.9 ± 172.9	272.6 ± 140.8	0.87
Baseline PaCO₂	35.7 ± 9.3	49.4 ± 23.0	0.20
During hospitalization
Highest lung injury score	1.59 ± 1.10	2.51 ± 0.29	0.09
Highest respiratory rate	34.65 ± 5.19	40.80 ± 7.08	0.06
Lowest PaO₂/FiO₂ ratio	210.1 ± 123.8	65.8 ± 24.3	0.02
Highest PaCO₂	49.9 ± 17.4	80.1 ± 12.3	0.004
ALI/ARDS (%)	24 (66%)	4 (80%)	1
Liberation from ventilator (%) at 30 days	11(31)	0	0.29

Data are presented as mean ± standard deviation. ALI, acute lung injury; APACHE, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation; ARDS, acute respiratory distress syndrome; FiO₂, fraction of inspired oxygen; ICU, intensive care unit; PEEP, positive end-expiratory pressure.

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