Gastrointestinal complications (gangrene or perforation) after corona virus disease 2019 — A series of ten patients

Abstract

During the recent second wave of corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in India, we managed a series of gastrointestinal complications in patients with COVID-19. We aim to highlight the key presentation and clinical course and emphasize the lessons we learnt from our series of such patients. A case review of ten consecutive patients with either bowel gangrene or perforation who were managed at our centre from March 20, 2021 to June 10, 2021. Clinical-demographic details, possible etiology, radiological findings, management and outcomes have been described. Of the 10 patients, 2 presented with bowel gangrene and 8 with perforation. In our series, all these patients were diagnosed with the help of computed tomography (CT) abdomen during the 3rd week after diagnosis of COVID-19. All had received steroid medication. Both patients with bowel gangrene and 4 of 8 patients with perforation underwent surgery, while 4 were managed non-operatively. Barring one patient, all the operated patients succumbed within 5 days of surgery after rapid clinical deterioration. Non-operative management in selected patients with perforation including placement of percutaneous drains, bowel rest and antibiotics was successful. Emergency surgery for COVID-19 related intestinal gangrene or perforation was associated with high mortality in our series. Non-operative management which avoids the added stress of a major emergency surgery particularly in patients just recovering from COVID-19 may be considered in stable patients in whom perforation appears to be contained.