Lobectomy for Hemorrhagic Lobar Infarction in a Patient

Patients with severe coronavirus disease 2019 from infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 mount a profound inflammatory response and are predisposed to thrombotic complications. Pulmonary vein thrombosis is a rare disease process resulting in pulmonary congestion, infarction, and potential mortality. This report describes a patient with coronavirus disease 2019 requiring venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for hypoxic respiratory failure who developed hemorrhagic infarction of the right lower lobe. During emergency exploration the patient was found to have a right inferior vein thrombosis and marked lobar hemorrhage mandating lobectomy. (C) 2021 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons

Automated summary

Patients with severe COVID-19 are prone to a strong inflammatory response and thrombotic complications. Pulmonary vein thrombosis, while rare, can lead to pulmonary congestion, infarction, and potentially mortality. This case report highlights the development of hemorrhagic infarction in a COVID-19 patient requiring ECMO, due to inferior vein thrombosis and subsequent lobectomy.