Colonic perforation in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia – case reports

Abstract

Introduction: Gastrointestinal complications in critically ill patients during the COVID-19 pandemic pose a diagnostic and treatment dilemma.
Case report: We present two cases of SARS-CoV-2 positive patients treated in our department for colon perforation. One patient was operated for a diastasic right colon perforation due to acute over distension of the bowel. The perforation in the second case was associated with chronic diverticulitis.
Conclusion: These cases highlight the fact that besides typical respiratory symptoms and signs of COVID-19, digestive symptoms also occur. These can caused by intestinal perforation, be it directly or due to changing homeostasis of the internal environment.