Multiorgan thrombosis as a complication of COVID-19 pneumonia

BMJ Case Rep. 2021 Jul 28;14(7):e243953. doi: 10.1136/bcr-2021-243953.

Abstract

A 47-year-old man, positive for SARS-CoV-2, was diagnosed with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) complicated by myocarditis on a background of COVID-19 pneumonia. He was medically treated for ACS; however, 3 days into his admission, the patient developed neurological complications confirmed on MRI of the brain. MRI showed established infarcts involving a large part of the left temporal lobe and right occipital lobe, with minor foci of micro-haemorrhagic transformation in the left temporal lobe. A left ventricular mural thrombus was then confirmed on echocardiogram, and this was attributed as the cause of his neurological infarct. Further infarctions in the kidneys and spleen, and thrombi in the superior mesenteric and left femoral artery were also identified on imaging of the abdomen. The left ventricular mural thrombus was removed surgically via a midline sternotomy incision under general anaesthesia. Surgery was successful and the patient was discharged to a rehabilitation centre.

Keywords: COVID-19; cardiothoracic surgery; cardiovascular medicine; neurology.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • COVID-19*
  • Echocardiography
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Myocarditis*
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Thrombosis* / diagnostic imaging
  • Thrombosis* / etiology