Introduction: Gastrointestinal symptoms are present in 50% of polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-positive COVID-19 patients. In addition, bowel abnormalities are a common finding of COVID-19, and bowel-wall disorder is reported in 31% of computed tomography images of COVID-19 patients.
Case history: We report three postpartum cases with colon perforation after Cesarean section and positive PCR for SARS-CoV-2-RNA and during the main peak of COVID-19 pandemic, who were managed by early detection, laparotomy, and effective treatment and were discharged and followed up.
Conclusion: A colonic perforation could be considered as one of the causes of abdominal pain especially in women with a past surgical history as well as patients with infectious diseases such as COVID-19. Therefore, abdominal and pelvic ultrasound or x-ray was strongly recommended for postpartum women with abnormal abdominal distension, gastrointestinal symptoms, and pain to prevent possible fetal complications.
Keywords: Bowel perforation; COVID-19; case report; gastrointestinal symptoms.
Copyright: © 2022 Journal of the West African College of Surgeons.