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An acute lower limb ischemia revealing a covid-19 infection: A case report
Rim El Mesnaoui1, Soumaila Nikiema2, Desire Massimbo3
1Ibn Sina Hospital, Department of Vascular Surgery, Mohammed V University, Morocco.
Insights
COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease 2019) can cause dangerous blood clots, including arterial thrombosis leading to limb ischemia. This case highlights the severe consequences and the need for vigilant monitoring in infected patients.
Area of Science:
- Vascular Medicine
- Infectious Diseases
- Cardiology
Background:
- COVID-19 is linked to a higher risk of thromboembolic events, affecting both venous and arterial systems.
- Understanding the pathophysiology and epidemiology of these complications is crucial for patient management.
Observation:
- A 65-year-old patient with COVID-19 presented with severe lower limb ischemia.
- Imaging revealed extensive femoral and leg artery thrombosis, which recurred after surgical intervention, necessitating amputation.
Findings:
- Arterial thrombosis, including acute limb ischemia, is an increasingly recognized complication of COVID-19.
- The incidence of acute limb ischemia has risen during the pandemic, particularly in affected regions.
Implications:
- COVID-19-associated coagulopathy can lead to serious arterial thromboembolic events such as stroke, myocardial infarction, and peripheral ischemia.
- Close monitoring of COVID-19 patients for thromboembolic complications is essential to prevent severe outcomes.
Introduction:
Covid-19 is associated with thrombo-embolic events. These complications are either veinous or arterial. By this case report, we aim to highlight the physiopathology and the epidemiology of covid-19 related thromboembolic complications.
Case Report:
We report a case of a 65 years old patient who was admitted fo lower limb ischemia complicating a covid-19 infection. Computed tomography of the aorta and lower limbs showed thrombosis of the femoral artery extended to the popliteal artery and leg arteries. Despite a surgical embolectomy the patient rethromboses twice leading to a thigh amputation.
Discussion:
Several hypotheses have been put forward to explain Covid 19-related thromboembolic events. About 3% of patients develop arterial thrombosis. Raffaello Bellosta and al. reported the incidence of acute limb ischemia has significantly increased during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Italian Lombardy region.
Conclusion:
The coagulopathy responsible for venous and arterial thrombosis is a well-established complication of COVID-19. Arterial thromboembolic complications can be either stroke, acute coronary syndrome or peripheral acute ischemia. Therefore, patients with covid19 should be monitored more closely for thromboembolic complications.
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