Introduction:

severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection has spread rapidly resulting in a pandemic, causing a serious condition in thousands of patients around the world. Although the number of articles concerning this illness grows exponentially, there are few published clinical cases that describe long-term lung complications.

Case report:

57-year-old male with right pleural effusion secondary to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). An endopleural catheter was placed without achieving complete lung expansion. An exploratory thoracotomy was performed finding necrotizing pneumonia, bronchopleural fistula of the right middle lobe and pachypleuritis as late pulmonary complications of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Conclusion:

it is necessary to continue an arduous investigation regarding the great variability of complications due to COVID-19 and to propose surgical treatment for selected patients.