Spontaneous rectus sheath hematoma in three patients with COVID-19: Computed tomography findings.

The pulmonary symptoms secondary to severe acute respiratory syndrome in coronavirus (COVID-19) infections are the most common presentation for the disease; however, it is now known that in a small portion of patients, severe hemorrhagic complications can also be seen. In this report, three cases of elderly women with known COVID-19 infection, developing spontaneous rectus sheath hematoma on anticoagulation therapy, are presented. Three cases presented above emphasize the need to perform a computed tomography examination after a sudden hemodynamic deterioration and a decrease in hemoglobin count in COVID-19 patients in intensive care units (ICUs). Since this clinical deterioration can be caused by spontaneous rectus sheath hematomas (RSH), it must be taken into consideration while examination. If these RSHs rupture into the abdominal cavity, the outcome may be fatal in few hours as represented in two of our cases. Major spontaneous hemorrhage in COVID-19 patients is quite uncommon; therefore, it may cause serious complications as it is rarely taken into consideration. Failure to acknowledge such a risk could significantly worsen the prognosis of the patients especially in ERs and ICUs.

Pathophysiology and management of critical illness polyneuropathy and myopathy.

Critical illness-associated weakness (CIAW) is an umbrella term used to describe a group of neuromuscular disorders caused by severe illness. It can be subdivided into three major classifications based on the component of the neuromuscular system (i.e. peripheral nerves or skeletal muscle or both) that are affected. This includes critical illness polyneuropathy (CIP), critical illness myopathy (CIM), and an overlap syndrome, critical illness polyneuromyopathy (CIPNM). It is a common complication observed in people with critical illness requiring intensive care unit (ICU) admission. Given CIAW is found in individuals experiencing grave illness, it can be challenging to study from a practical standpoint. However, over the past 2 decades, many insights into the pathophysiology of this condition have been made. Results from studies in both humans and animal models have found that a profound systemic inflammatory response and factors related to bioenergetic failure as well as microvascular, metabolic, and electrophysiological alterations underlie the development of CIAW. Current management strategies focus on early mobilization, achieving euglycemia, and nutritional optimization. Other interventions lack sufficient evidence, mainly due to a dearth of large trials. The goal of this Physiology in Medicine article is to highlight important aspects of the pathophysiology of these enigmatic conditions. It is hoped that improved understanding of the mechanisms underlying these disorders will lead to further study and new investigations for novel pharmacologic, nutritional, and exercise-based interventions to optimize patient outcomes.