ПРИКАЗ НА СЛУЧАЈ: ТРЕТМАН СО ЕМБОЛИЗАЦИЈА НА ХЕМАТОМ ВО ПРАВИОТ СТОМАЧЕН МУСКУЛ КАЈ ПАЦИЕНТ СО КОВИД-19 A CASE REPORT: EMBOLIZATION TREATMENT OF RECTUS SHEATH HEMATOMA IN A COVID-19 PATIENT

Abstract

Introduction. In this case report we present a patient with COVID-19 pneumonia and rectus sheath hematoma (RSH) treated with embolization. Methods. A 63-year-old man positive for SARS-CoV- 2 presented with cough, fever and dyspnea to our Clinic. The patient was admitted and treated with oxygen, antibiotics, corticosteroid, anticoagulant and oral antiplatelet therapy. Thirteen days after admission the patient had severe abdominal pain, the CT scan confirmed left rectus sheath hematoma and he underwent a CT angiography with embolization of the left inferior epigastric artery. Ten days after embolization the patient recovered completely and was discharged. Result. SARS-CoV-2 infection is associated with coagulopathy, hence the anticoagulant therapy. The main side effect of anticoagulant therapy is an increased risk of bleeding. A rare complication of anticoagulant therapy is rectus sheath hematoma. The treatment is usually conservative with intravenous fluids, pain medication, discontinuation of anticoagulant therapy, and blood transfusion in cases of severe anemia. The computed tomography is the most common method to establish or confirm the diagnosis. Еmbolization of bleeding vessels can be performed in large RSH with hemodynamic instability and/or with evidence of active bleeding. Conclusion. Inpatient treatment of COVID-19 pneumonia includes anticoagulant agents, but clinicians must carefully monitor their possible side effects and suspect a rectus sheath hematoma in patients with abdominal pain and palpable mass. Those with clinically relevant rectus sheath hematoma that do not respond to supportive care can be successfully treated using embolization, thus avoiding invasive surgical approach.