Saddle pulmonary embolism and clot in transit in COVID-19 infection: a case report of catastrophic venous thromboembolism.

BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is associated with a coagulopathy favouring thrombosis over bleeding that imparts a poor prognosis. Clot in transit (CIT) is considered a rare entity and the most severe form of venous thromboembolism (VTE), carrying a higher mortality than isolated pulmonary embolism (PE). The incidence of this phenomenon in patients with COVID-19 infection is unknown and likely under-recognized. CASE SUMMARY: During the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic in New York City, a 70-year-old Hispanic female presented with syncope due to a saddle PE further complicated by a highly mobile CIT. Polymerase chain reaction was positive for COVID-19 infection, however, there was no evidence of lung parenchymal involvement or hyper-inflammation. Based on consensus from a multidisciplinary team, aspiration thrombectomy was attempted to treat this extreme case of VTE, however, the patient died during the procedure. DISCUSSION: This case raises awareness to the most catastrophic form of VTE, presenting in an early phase of COVID-19 infection without the typical hyper-inflammation and severe lung injury associated with development of COVID-related coagulopathy. It also serves to inform on the critical role echocardiography has in the comprehensive evaluation and re-evaluation of hospitalized patients with COVID-19, and the importance of a multidisciplinary organized approach in clinical decision-making for this complex and poorly understood disease and its sequelae.

Percutaneous versus surgical management of lower extremity peripheral artery disease.

Lower extremity peripheral artery disease (PAD) is highly prevalent and can manifest as intermittent claudication or, in the most advanced form, critical limb ischemia. Revascularization, which can be accomplished by an endovascular or surgical approach, is performed to improve quality of life or, in severe cases, for limb salvage. Over the past decade, percutaneous catheter-based techniques have improved such that acute procedural success is high even in complex anatomy. Patency rates have also increased with the use of atherectomy devices and drug-eluting stents. Often, patients with PAD have comorbidities that increase the risk of cardiovascular complications with surgical procedures. These factors have led to the adoption of an endovascular first strategy with surgical management reserved for selected patients. This review focuses on the most current clinical trials of endovascular therapy for PAD. In addition, older but relevant studies comparing endovascular and surgical approaches and contemporary surgical trials are presented for reference.