Retroperitoneal hemorrhage due to ruptured artery induced by median arcuate ligament syndrome in patients with COVID-19: A case series.

Background: Median arcuate ligament syndrome describes a clinical presentation associated with direct compression of the celiac artery by the median arcuate ligament. Decreased blood flow from the celiac artery and increased flow from superior mesenteric artery causes blood flow in the pancreatic arcade to increase, and aneurysms can form. We report our experience with six cases of retroperitoneal hemorrhage induced by median arcuate ligament syndrome in patients during the COVID-19 period.

Case presentation: The time from the onset of COVID-19 to that of abdominal pain in the patients ranged from 3 to 9 days. None of the patients required oxygen for COVID-19. We used contrast-enhanced computed tomography to diagnose retroperitoneal hemorrhage and formation of a visceral pseudoaneurysm or aneurysm due to median arcuate ligament syndrome. Five patients underwent transcatheter arterial embolization. One patient suffered complications of duodenal stenosis and another suffered portal vein thrombosis.

Conclusions: Retroperitoneal hemorrhage associated with median arcuate ligament syndrome is rare. However, it might be triggered by COVID-19 disease, resulting in arterial disruption and hemorrhage.