Spontaneous hematomas in COVID-19: causes, clinic, diagnosis and treatment

Abstract

Purpose. To determine the frequency and risk factors for the development of internal spontaneous internal hemorrhage and clinical manifestations in patients with COVID-19 undergoing inpatient treatment. Material and methods. In the period from10.20 till 06.2021, 28 cases of spontaneous internal hemorrhage in patients with confi rmed COVID-19 complicated by bilateral interstitial polysegmental pneumonia were analyzed at the COVID-19 Clinical Center of Moscow State Medical University named after Evdokimov. Anamnesis, age, gender, objective examination data, concomitant diseases, laboratory blood counts, CT results, soft tissue ultrasound, treatment regimens, characteristics of hematomas (volume, localization) and hospitalization outcomes were analyzed. Results. Summarizing the results of our own observations, a low number (no more than 1%) of hemorrhagic complications in patients with coronavirus infection were noted. In more than half of the patients, spontaneous internal hemorrhages were detected during the 2nd–3rd weeks of treatment, for 17.4 ± 2.7 days on average. The main risk factors for the development of internal spontaneous hemorrhage with the formation of hematomas in patients with COVID-19 should be considered old age, female sex, and the presence of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and anticoagulant therapy. Hemorrhages of any localization and intensity, both isolated and combined, can develop regardless of the severity of lung damage and respiratory failure. In case of a decrease in the level of hemoglobin in the dynamics of treatment, fi brinogen, hypotension, the appearance of pain syndromes of various localization (against the background of a decrease in C-reactive protein (CRP), and an increase in leukocytes in the blood), emergency computed tomography (CT) is indicated for timely diagnosis of hemorrhage and the formation of hematomas. Surgical treatment is indicated for hemodynamically stable patients with large-volume soft tissue hematomas (more than 500 ml) with signs of suppuration according to ultrasound or CT. The prescription of anticoagulants and antiplatelet agents, regardless of the dosage, can lead to hemorrhagic complications, which requires constant monitoring of coagulogram parameters in order to correct the dose.