Acute Mesenteric Ischemia in COVID-19 While Receiving Prophylactic Enoxaparin

Clin Med Res. 2022 Dec;20(4):236-240. doi: 10.3121/cmr.2022.1751.

Abstract

COVID-19 infection is known to cause thromboembolic complications. This is why patients hospitalized with COVID-19 are put on prophylactic anticoagulation. We present the case of a Caucasian woman, aged 71 years, with risk factors of class 1 obesity, hyperlipidemia, and hypertension, initially admitted for COVID-19 pneumonia, and later developed acute mesenteric ischemia followed by pulmonary embolism. These incidents occurred while the patient was receiving high-dose prophylactic enoxaparin (40 mg twice daily). COVID-19 associated acute mesenteric ischemia is a complication with high mortality. Therefore, high suspicion, early recognition, and surgical management is necessary. Apart from that, this case emphasizes the question of whether there is a need for proactively administering therapeutic anticoagulation for high thrombotic risk COVID-19 patients to prevent deadly complications.

Keywords: Cocaine; Iatrogenic Disease; In-Hospital Mortality; Intestinal ischemia; Length of Stay; Patient Outcome Assessment.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Anticoagulants / adverse effects
  • COVID-19*
  • Enoxaparin / adverse effects
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Mesenteric Ischemia* / chemically induced
  • Mesenteric Ischemia* / surgery
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Enoxaparin
  • Anticoagulants