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Author Spotlight: Deciphering Coagulation Disorders in Traumatic Brain Injury Patients
Published on: August 4, 2023
Coronavirus-Associated Coagulopathy After Trauma
Kevin D Kirkland1, William F Powers1, Elizabeth Acquista1
1Department of General Surgery, 24520New Hanover Regional Medical Center, Wilmington, NC, USA.
Insights
COVID-19-associated coagulopathy (CAC) increases venous thromboembolism risk. This case highlights managing severe pulmonary emboli and cardiogenic shock in a trauma patient with recent COVID-19.
Area of Science:
- Medicine
- Critical Care
- Trauma Surgery
Background:
- COVID-19 is associated with a hypercoagulable state, known as COVID-19-associated coagulopathy (CAC).
- Elevated factor VIII, fibrinogen, and blood hyperviscosity contribute to increased venous thromboembolism risk in CAC patients.
Observation:
- A patient with recent COVID-19 infection and no prior medical history sustained femur fractures after a motorcycle collision.
- Following retrograde intramedullary nailing for femur fractures, the patient developed immediate massive bilateral pulmonary emboli and subsequent cardiogenic shock.
Findings:
- Initial treatment with tissue plasminogen activator via pulmonary artery thrombolysis catheters was ineffective.
- Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation was initiated for cardiogenic shock, leading to patient recovery over a 58-day hospitalization.
Implications:
- This case underscores the complex interplay between COVID-19-associated coagulopathy, trauma, and surgical critical care.
- Effective management strategies for severe thromboembolic events in post-COVID-19 trauma patients are crucial.
- The report discusses the role of surgical critical care in managing CAC-related complications.
Abstract:
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is linked with a hypercoagulable state called COVID-19-associated coagulopathy (CAC). Due to elevated levels of factor VIII and fibrinogen as well as inflammation-linked hyperviscosity of blood, the risk for venous thromboembolism is increased in patients who have CAC. We report the case of a patient with recent COVID-19 infection and no other past medical history who presented after a motorcycle collision with left middle and distal femur fractures, who underwent retrograde intramedullary nailing, and then developed immediate massive bilateral pulmonary emboli. The patient was treated with tissue plasminogen activator administration via bilateral pulmonary artery thrombolysis catheters without improvement, and was then placed on venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for subsequent cardiogenic shock. During a 58-day hospital stay, the patient recovered and was discharged with a good long-term prognosis. In this report, we discuss CAC, the role of surgical critical care in the management of the disease, and issues specific to this patient's disease process and treatment.
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