Acute and Massive Aortic Thrombosis and Embolic Occlusion in a Patient with COVID-19: A Case Report

Abstract

: A 73-year-old man with a history of COVID-19 infection from two weeks ago was referred to the Emergency Department with a complaint of colicky and generalized abdominal pain in addition to prior respiratory symptoms. High-resolution Computed Tomography (HRCT) displayed the typical signs of COVID-19 pneumonia. Initially, laboratory tests showed increased C-reactive protein and severe leukocytosis. Because of generalized abdominal pain, spiral abdominal and pelvic CT scans were done, which showed massive irregular and free-floating aortic thrombosis from the carina site to the Superior Mesenteric Artery (SMA) detachment, indicative of acute and life-threatening thrombosis. Filling defects were seen in the middle and distal part of the splenic artery, indicating the embolic occlusion of the splenic artery. The patient was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), and he became a candidate for conservative treatment because of the wide extension of thrombosis. Therefore, we should pay more attention to the indirect signs of thrombosis in patients with COVID-19 infection with gastrointestinal symptoms and consider anticoagulant therapy for high-risk patients with COVID-19. The unique feature of our case was acute and extensive arterial thrombosis.