Korean J Gastroenterol.  2020 Sep;76(3):164-166. 10.4166/kjg.2020.76.3.164.

Acute Intestinal Ischemia in a Patient with COVID-19 Infection

• Singh B
• Mechineni A
• Kaur P
• Ajdir N
• Maroules M
• Shamoon F
• Bikkina M

• KMID: 2506673
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4166/kjg.2020.76.3.164

Abstract

The World Health Organization has declared novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) a global public health emergency. Although respiratory symptoms predominate in COVID-19, thrombosis can occur in patients with COVID-19. This paper reports a case of an 82-year-old female with a prior medical history of hypertension, diabetes presenting with fever and cough, and was diagnosed with COVID-19. The patient subsequently developed progressively worsening of abdominal distention, tenderness, and underwent emergent laparotomy. She was found to have a gangrenous colon. This case adds to the limited literature regarding the extrapulmonary complications of COVID-19.

Keyword

COVID-19; Arterial thrombosis; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; Mesenteric ischemia; Ischemic colitis

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Computed tomography of the abdomen showing moderate distention of the colon with significant pneumatosis intestinalis (presence of gas within the wall of the intestine-arrow) involving the ascending colon and the cecum.

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  Fig. 2 Pathological findings (H&E, ×20): colon segment showing extensive mucosal, submucosal necrosis (upper arrow), and microthrombi (lower arrow).

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