Emphysematous gastritis on the post COVID-19 spectrum: A case report

Abstract

Emphysematous gastritis is an uncommon, life-threatening form of gastritis caused by gas-forming microorganisms. It is frequently associated with diabetes mellitus, alcohol abuse, renal failure, recent abdominal surgery, gastroenteritis, long-term corticosteroid use, ingestion of corrosive agents, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug use. We report a case of emphysematous gastritis in a 42-year old COVID-recovered patient with no other known risk factors. The probable mechanism may be due to its immunosuppressive nature, which can be considered an independent risk factor for the development of deadly diseases. Medical management of emphysematous gastritis has gained popularity as a treatment option. Emergency gastrectomy is advised only for patients who continue to deteriorate after receiving the best medical care, develop an ulcer, a gastric infarction, or a perforation. We wish to demonstrate through our case study that conservative management of emphysematous gastritis can yield great results if done meticulously. We also aim to shed light on the potential for COVID-19 infections to be standalone immunocompromised states that facilitate lethal infections in susceptible individuals. However more research is required to definitively establish the same.