Did Covid 19 disease increase mesenteric ischemia cases?

Abstract

İntroduction Covid 19 (C19) disease causes mortal complications due to both respiratory system involvement and extrapulmonary involvement. C19 patients may present with gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea-vomiting, diarrhea and loss of appetite, as well as serious conditions such as acute mesenteric ischemia. C19 disease is a proinflammatory condition that causes thrombus formation. Material method The first group (G1) was treated with 21 mesenteric ischemia cases operated in the General Surgery Department of Aksaray Training and Research Hospital in approximately two years between March 2020 and February 2022, and the second group (G2), in a two-year period between 2018-2020 before the pandemic, in the same department. The information of 11 mesenteric ischemia cases who underwent surgery were analyzed from the hospital information system. Statistically, the predisposing diseases, demographic data, intestinal lengths removed during the operation, and survival of the patients in both groups were compared. Results When the number of patients who were operated on in G1 and G2 were compared, it was seen that more patients were operated in G1. The probability of mesenteric ischemia in a 24-month period was found to be 0.875 in G1 and 0.458 in G2. These rates were statistically different (p=0.002). When the mean age, length of the removed bowel, and postoperative mortality of both groups were compared, no significant difference was found. Conclusion Although the exact mechanism by which the Covid 19 disease causes mesenteric ischemia is not understood, we observed a statistically significant increase in mesenteric ischemia cases during the pandemic period compared to the pre-pandemic return. Considering the Physiopathology of C19, it is known that the diseases in the body generally occur on the basis of vasculitis. When C19 infection is detected, we recommend anticoagulant treatment for at least 3 months during the infection and for the prevention of other complications related to vasculitis, especially mesenteric ischemia.