Massive intrathoracic haemorrhage as a complication of pulmonary parenchymal haemorrhage and anticoagulant treatment of lung embolization during COVID-19 – two case reports

Abstract

The medical and social interest in the SARS-CoV-2 infection is currently high. This infection can, in severe cases, be accompanied by a series of complications, such as thromboembolic disease or pulmonary parenchymal haemorrhage. The paper presents two rare cases of massive intrathoracic haemorrhage caused by pulmonary parenchymal haemorrhage and exacerbated by full anticoagulant treatment of thromboembolic disease. In both cases, the haemorrhage originated in the left lower lobe and was life threatening, requiring urgent anatomical lung resection - left lower lobectomy. The combinaion of anticoagulant therapy and thromboembolic events related to COVID-19 can cause, in rare cases, massive pulmonary haemorrhage. This rare complication proved lethal in one out of two of the cases described in this paper. An imminent and adequate reaction is necessary when the first signs of haemorrhage appear.