A Late Presentation of COVID-19 Induced Bowel Ischemia

• Published in: CRSLS : MIS case reports from SLS 2022, Vol.9 (4)
• Main Authors: Annabi, Hani Michael, Dodson, Darrel, Applebaum, Bruce, Clapp, Benjamin
• Format: Report
• Language: English
• ISSN: 2376-9254
• DOI: 10.4293/CRSLS.2022.00057

IntroductionInfection with COVID-19 may lead to extrapulmonary pathologies secondary to the systemic inflammatory effects of the virus. Case DescriptionThis case report discusses a 55-year-old female patient who presented with small bowel obstruction (SBO) several months after resolution of a COVID-19 infection. The patient was surgically treated with a small bowel resection, and eventually made a full recovery. DiscussionThe pathophysiology of COVID-19-induced SBO can be explained by the prolonged inflammation and coagulation activation in the bowel's vasculature system. Under these circumstances, microthrombosis occurs in the bowel's microvasculature; the affected intestinal tissue becomes ischemic and infarcted. The damaged bowel is eventually replaced with fibrotic scar tissue, thus promoting bowel stricture and subsequent obstruction. ConclusionCOVID-19 can be responsible for both acute and chronic embolic and thrombotic events in the mesenteric vasculature, which acts as a risk factor in the manifestation of SBO.