Coronavirus: Gallbladder gangrene newest Post-COVID risk discovered, all you need to know about the condition

It's been more than 1.5 years since the first case of COVID-19 infection was reported in the country. Scientists and researchers are still discovering new things about the virus and the after-effects of COVID-19 infection post-recovery. Apart from symptoms and Long COVID ailments, there have also been reports of vital organ complications impacting COVID recovery. There are now newer reports which suggest that developing gangrene can be a risky COVID complication some people may encounter.

According to recent news, doctors at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi have seen five patients who developed gangrene after recovering from a COVID-19 infection. Though these five patients were successfully treated in the hospital, all of the patients needed immediate surgery to remove the bladder, since gangrene can be a severe risk-factor post illness.

But what exactly is Gallbladder gangrene? Here is all that you need to know:

Inflammation of the gallbladder, which led to gangrene in the reported COVID patients usually happens to people who have gallstones. Acute inflammation in people without stones is seen if the immune system is weak, the person has HIV, those who have got nutrition through IV for long, prolonged fasting, admitted to ICU for long or the person has suffered an injury.

The five patients who reported the condition did not suffer from any of the above conditions but all of them recovered from COVID-19 infection two months back.

The mortality rate is high - 30 per cent to 60 per cent in people who developed gallbladder inflammation without stones due to a condition that led to the inflammation in the first place. But this was not seen in COVID-19 patients. All these patients recovered and are doing well.

It's unfortunately not the first time we have heard of post-COVID gangrene being repoorted. During the peak of the second wave, there were some incidences of gangrene discovered in patients who had recovered from COVID. However, what doctors alert is that gangrene risk is fueled by the high level of inflammation and attack unleashed by the SARS-COV-2 virus.

The COVID-19 infection primarily affects the lungs as it has the highest number of ACE2 receptors that the virus uses to bind the human cells. After lungs, the gastrointestinal tract (bile duct, gall bladder and associated structures) has the highest number of ACE2 receptors.

The gallbladder epithelial cells are similar to bile duct cells and are highly rich in ACE2 receptors and thus can be a target for the SARS-CoV-2 virus or the body's dysregulated immunological response against the virus resulting in severe inflammation of the gallbladder.

Gangrene is the death of tissue in part of the body. It happens when the body part loses its blood supply, which can happen due to infection, injury or other reasons. You have a higher risk to develop the condition if you have suffered a serious injury, have a blood vessel disease, diabetes, suppressed immune system or had surgery

Common symptoms include fever, pain, low blood pressure and feeling generally ill.

Doctors are suggesting that if people with a history of COVID-19 have pain in the right upper abdomen suspect gallbladder inflammation, they should start the treatment soon.