Splenic infarction and spontaneous rectus sheath hematomas in COVID-19 patient

Abstract

Multiple studies and reports have suggested that coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) promotes arterial and venous thrombotic events in multiple organ systems, although the mechanism leading to a hypercoagulable state is still unknown. Few cases of splenic infarction associated with COVID-19 have been reported, of which half were found incidentally upon autopsy. This may be due to a clinically silent presentation or the symptoms being wrongfully attributed to pain caused by the effects of COVID-19. Due to the rarity of the condition and its lack of consistent symptomatology, splenic thromboembolism can be difficult to diagnose. Awareness of the condition and high clinical suspicion will help the clinician identify and manage the problem. Hemorrhage in patients with COVID-19 is uncommon in the hypercoagulable state that threatens thrombus formation in patients with COVID-19 infection. Despite prophylactic treatment with anticoagulation therapies, patients are more prone to developing clots. It is also well-known that therapeutic anticoagulation can place patients at a higher risk of bleeding. Thus, this unique population is at risk of developing both thrombotic and hemorrhagic events. We report a rare case of splenic infarction in a patient with confirmed COVID-19 infection despite prophylactic treatment with low-molecular-weight heparin which was found incidentally during workup for 2 other rare conditions: spontaneous rectus sheath hematoma and microhemorrhage or thrombus of the mesenteric vessels.

Keywords

• COVID-19
• Coronavirus
• Sars-Cov-2
• Splenic infarction
• Rectus sheath hematoma