Analysis of Gastrointestinal and Hepatic Manifestations of SARS-CoV-2 Infection in 892 Patients in Queens, NY.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is an RNA virus responsible for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).1,2 The virus enters cells via the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 receptor, which is present in enterocytes in the ileum and colon.3 Gastrointestinal (GI) manifestations include diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain, and the prevalence of GI symptoms varies greatly, with a range between 2% and 57%.4 In addition, abnormal liver chemistries are reported commonly.4 As a medical center at the forefront of the early epidemic in the United States, we seek to contribute to the growing body of literature that outlines the gastrointestinal and hepatic manifestations of COVID-19.

Novel Approach to Endoscopic Foreign Body Retrieval From the Gastric Body.

Foreign body (FB) ingestion is a common occurrence in the United States with a reported incidence of 120 per 1 million people, accounting for up to 1500 fatalities annually. The majority of FB ingestions will pass through the gastrointestinal tract spontaneously, while in 10% to 20% of patients, intervention will be necessary. A variety of endoscopic devices can be utilized to facilitate FB removal from the gastrointestinal tract, including snares, retrieval nets, and grasping forceps. We report the case of a 58-year-old female who required utilization of endoscopic scissors for FB removal in the setting of multiple failed attempts with traditional methods. This case highlights a novel approach to gastric FB removal utilizing endoscopic scissor forceps, which should be considered in select cases to further improve the efficacy of endoscopic FB removal and reduce the need for surgical intervention.