ABSTRACT
Background: Severe COVID-19 pneumonia implies increased oxygen demands and length of hospitalization (LOS). We aimed to assess a possible correlation between LOS and COVID-19 patients' clinical laboratory data of admission, including the total severity score (TSS) from chest computed tomography (CT). Methods: Data were assessed retrospectively at the General Hospital "Agios Pavlos" in Greece. Clinical laboratory data, TSS, and LOS were recorded. Results: A total of 317 patients, 136 women and 181 men, with a mean age of 66.58 ± 16.02 years were studied. Significant comorbidities were hypertension (56.5%), dyslipidemia (33.8%), type 2 diabetes mellitus (22.7%), coronary heart disease (12.9%), underlying pulmonary disease (10.1%), and malignancy (4.4%). Inpatient time was related to age (p < 0.001), TSS (p < 0.001), time from symptom onset to hospitalization (p = 0.006), inhaled oxygen fraction (p < 0.001), fibrinogen (p = 0.024), d-dimers (p < 0.001), and C-reactive protein (p = 0.025), as well as a history of hypertension (p < 0.001) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (p < 0.008). The multivariate analysis showed a significant association of the LOS with age (p < 0.001) and TSS (p < 0.001) independent of the above-mentioned factors. Conclusion: Early identification of disease severity using the TSS and patients' age could be useful for inpatient resource allocation and for maintaining vigilance for those requiring long-term hospitalizations.
ABSTRACT
AIM: Presentation of two cases of superficial epigastric vein aneurysm simulating inguinal hernia. To our knowledge, only one other case is reported in the literature. Case presentation. The first case was a 34-year-old female with left inguinal pain and swelling which was clinically diagnosed as inguinal hernia. The second case was a 28-year-old female with inguinal pain and swelling, depicted with triplex ultrasonography and computed tomography, and was suspected to have inguinal hernia or enlarged inguinal lymph node. During the surgical exploration, both patients were found to have thrombosed aneurysm of the superficial epigastric vein. During the surgical exploration, both patients were found to have thrombosed aneurysm of the superficial epigastric vein. The superficial epigastric vein was ligated, and the venous aneurysms (6 × 4 × 3 and 2 × 3 × 2.5 cm, respectively) were excised. Histological examination of the thrombosed aneurysm showed complete replacement of the vascular wall by fibrous tissue, thrombosis, and an inflammatory reaction. There were no postoperative complications, and both patients were discharged on the second postoperative day. The 3-month and 1-year follow-up examination, respectively, was uneventful. CONCLUSION: Although venous aneurysms in the inguinal area are rare, they should be included in the differential diagnosis of a groin swelling.
