Upper extremity arterial thromboembolism in a patient with severe COVID-19 pneumonia: A case report

Abstract

Although novel coronavirus-2019 (COVID-19) primarily affectsthe respiratory system, it can affect multiple organ systems,leading to serious complications, such as acute respiratory distresssyndrome (ARDS) and multiple organ failure. Nearly 20 to 55%of patients with COVID-19 experience coagulation disordersthat cause high mortality in line with the severity of the clinicalpicture. Thromboembolism can be observed in both venous andarterial systems. The vast majority of thromboembolic eventsare associated with the venous system and are often observed aspulmonary embolism. Arterial thromboembolisms often involvethe arteries in the lower extremities, followed by those in theupper extremities. Herein, we report a rare case of COVID-19pneumonia whose left arm was amputated at the forearm levelafter arterial thromboembolism in the left upper extremity. Thiscase report is valuable, as it is the first reported case of upperextremity arterial thromboembolism in Turkey, as well as the onlycase in the literature in which the patient underwent four surgicalinterventions and is still alive.