Abdominal aortic occlusion in the setting of Covid 19 infection: literature review and a case report

Abstract This case report and literature review aimed to evaluate the incidence and characteristics of abdominal aortic thrombosis in patients with COVID-19. A case report was presented of a 52-y-old male with past medical history significant only for hypertension who presented with lower extremity claudication 5 months after a mild COVID-19 infection. On imaging, he had an isolated aortic thrombus and underwent successful thrombectomy. To prevent devastating limb ischemia, we emphasize early evaluation of claudication symptoms in patients with COVID-19 or recent COVID-19 infection. A literature search was performed, which yielded nine articles relevant to concomitant COVID-19 infection and abdominal aortic occlusion (AAO). The results showed that the majority of patients presented with clinical features of acute limb ischemia, along with associated features of a hypercoagulable state. While the patient age range was wide, most patients were over the age of 50 y. The case report and literature review highlight the importance of recognizing the potential for AAO in patients with COVID-19, especially in those with risk factors such as advanced age or underlying medical conditions.