Hematoma of the rectus abdominis sheath in the course of COVID-19

Introduction: Spontaneous abdominal wall hematoma is a rare clinical entity in medical practice. In the context of COVID-19, intra-abdominal hematoma presented as a complication of the imposed therapy and was not taken into consideration when making the differential diagnosis of abdominal pain and arterial hypotension. Objective: To report the appearance of rectus abdominis sheath hematoma as a complication of the use of anticoagulants in the course of COVID-19 treatment. Clinical case: A 71-year-old patient with COVID-19 is presented who was receiving anticoagulant treatment and began with acute abdominal pain, with abdominal ultrasound that was inconclusive, laparotomy was performed and a large hematoma was found in the abdominal Retzius space. She evolved favourably and is discharged after 7 days. Conclusions: The trans-operative diagnosis together with the drainage of the hematoma and the opportune fluid therapy allowed a favourable evolution and the recovery of the patient. © 2023, Editorial Ciencias Medicas. All rights reserved.

Encephalopathy as a form of presentation of COVID-19

Introduction: SARS-CoV-2 virus, responsible for COVID-19, has a high contagion rate and is capable of producing conditions at different levels in the body, and includes the central nervous system, with manifestations such as febrile and afebrile seizures, status epilepticus, encephalopathies and encephalitis. Objective: To describe a patient with encephalopathy, as a form of presentation of COVID-19. Clinical case: A 25-year-old patient with a history of post-traumatic obstructive hydrocephalus, with ventricular peritoneal shunt, positive for COVID-19, who developed neurological manifestations, in the absence of respiratory manifestations. He was treated according to the protocol for patients with COVID-19, anti-cerebral edema measures and use of the CIGB-258 peptide. The patient had a favorable evolution towards recovery Conclusions: In patients with encephalopathy of unknown cause, in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, SARS-CoV-2 infection should be considered. The evolution can be favorable with the use of general measures and anti-cerebral edema. © 2021, Editorial Ciencias Medicas. All rights reserved.