Bowel perforation in a Covid-19 patient: case report

Abstract

Introduction: Since the outbreak of novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV), it became evident that a proportion of patients may present with gastrointestinal symptoms.

Case: We report the case of a Covid-19-infected patient who, during recovery from the pulmonary pneumonia, had gastrointestinal symptoms followed by a diastasic right colon perforation due to acute over distension of the bowel.

Conclusion: This case highlights the importance of paying attention to initial gastrointestinal symptoms in order to prevent possible complications.

Keywords: Bowel perforation; Case report; Covid-19; Gastrointestinal symptoms.

Fig. 1

Chest X-ray showing multiple bilateral ground-glass opacities

Fig. 2

A high-resolution computed tomography of the abdomen showing free air in the abdominal cavity, axial view

Fig. 3

Computed tomography multiplanar coronal reconstruction showing whole colonic distension