Supra and infratentorial massive strokes in previously healthy young patients with SARS-CoV-2. The role of neurosurgery

Abstract

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has amazed by its distinct forms of presentation and severity.

COVID-19 patients can develop large-scale ischemic strokes in previously healthy patients without risk factors, especially in patients who develop an acute respiratory distress syndrome (SARS-CoV-2).

We hypothesize that ischemic events are usually the result of the combined process of a pro-inflammatory and pro-coagulant state plus vascular endothelial dysfunction probably potentiated by hypoxia, hemodynamic instability, and immobilization, as reported in other cases.

To the best of our knowledge, we report the first case of partial obstruction of a vertebral artery in a patient with COVID-19.

Decompressive surgery remains a life-saving maneuver in these patients (as in other non-COVID-19 strokes) and requires further investigation.

Introduction

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) that affects worldwide since December 2019 has amazed by its distinct forms of presentation and severity.¹ The reported incidence of strokes in COVID-19 patients lies between 2.8 and 5%.2, 3

The presence of a stroke increases the severity and mortality of patients with COVID-19.3, 4

We present two massive supra and infratentorial strokes in people of young age with no known risk factors and with the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS-CoV-2), requiring Endotracheal Intubation (ETI). One of them is a case of partial obstruction of the right vertebral artery. As far as we know, this could be the first reported case of this type.

Case 1

Cough, fever, nausea, and dyspnea that lasted for a week developed in a previously healthy 35-year-old man. He had bilateral interstitial pneumonia with COVID-19 positive, being diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 and admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU).

Blood analysis showed a pattern of a high systemic inflammatory response (Table 1 ).

Table 1.

Summary of relevant variables of young patients with stroke-COVID-19.

Variable	Case 1	Case 2	Reference normal values
Age (years)	35	51
Day stroke (from admission)	9	8
Leukocytes (10^6 μL)	12.8	14.6	4.0–10.5
Lymphocytes (10^3 μL)	8	9	1.5–3.5
Platelets (10^3 μL)	278	288	150–45
Fibrinogen (mg/dL)	820	502	150–450
C-reactive protein CRP (mg/dL)	39	14.42	<0.1
Ferritin (ng/mL)	1947	1716	10–150
D-Dimer (ng/mL)	1385	1495	0.1–500
Interleukin 6 IL6 (pg/mL)	282	72.8	1–5
Treatment SARS-CoV-2	Hydroxychloroquine, tocilizumab, methylprednisolone and enoxaparin (40 mg daily).	Hydroxychloroquine, methylprednisolone and enoxaparin (40 mg daily).
Stroke	Massive infratentorial stroke	Malignant supratentorial stroke
Artery	Vertebral artery	Middle cerebral artery
Stroke treatment	Thrombectomy and suboccipital craniectomy	Thrombectomy and right decompressive hemicraniectomy

The patient began treatment with hydroxychloroquine, Tocilizumab, Methylprednisolone, and Enoxaparin 40 mg daily (Table 1).

On day 5, nausea, vomiting, central nystagmus, dysmetria of the four extremities, and dysarthria suddenly appeared. Computed tomography (CT) showed subtle hypodensity in the upper margin of the left cerebellar hemisphere. Hypoplasia of the right vertebral artery (Fig. 1 B) and thrombus with partial obstruction at the level of the left vertebral artery – segment V2 (Fig. 1C, D). We also observed the anatomical absence of both posterior communicating cerebral arteries. We performed a successful mechanical thrombectomy using a direct aspiration first-pass technique.

Fig. 1.

Infratentorial massive stroke. Left VA partial obstruction. (A) CT: Massive ischemic stroke in left cerebellar hemisphere and edema (Black Circle). (B) CTA: Hypoplasia of the right VA (red circle). (C) Angiography: thrombus at the level of left VA-V2 segment (Red Arrow) evidencing low flow in posterior circulation). (D) Flow restored after thrombectomy (Red Dotted Arrow). (E) CT: Suboccipital craniectomy and ventricular drain. A notably radiological improvement of the posterior fossa stroke (Blue Dotted Circle). (F) CT: The resolution of hydrocephalus and improvement of the bilateral occipital strokes. * Bilateral stroke in occipital lobes, CTA: CT-Angio, CT: computerized tomography, VA: vertebral artery.

On day 9, he developed a suddenly reduced level of consciousness with bilateral mydriasis. CT shows a massive posterior fossa (PF) stroke with bilateral occipital involvement (Fig. 1A).

We perform an extensive suboccipital craniectomy and place external ventricular drainage (EVD). CT showed improvement in hydrocephalus and adequate decompression of the PF (Fig. 1E).

On day 16, we removed ETI and EVD (Fig. 1F). On day 21, the patient's level of consciousness is alert; he answers simple questions and obeys simple orders, with no apparent motor deficit. He can stand. However, he remains with mild dysarthria, dysmetria, dysdiadochokinesia, and bilateral cortical blindness. He has no fever or respiratory distress. We maintain treatment with Enoxaparin 40 mg daily and Acetylsalicylic Acid 100 mg per day. We began a rehabilitation program seeking to regain walking and coordination.

Case 2

A 51-year-old man admitted on April 29th for cough, fever, and dyspnea for a week. He had bilateral interstitial pneumonia with COVID-19 positive and admitted to the ICU. We started treatment with Hydroxychloroquine, Enoxaparin, and Methylprednisolone.

Blood analysis showed a pattern of a systemic inflammatory response (Table 1).

On day 4, he developed acute respiratory failure (SARS-CoV-2). On day 8, we observed a sudden onset left hemiplegia and hemineglect. The CT angiography showed occlusion in the M1 segment of the right middle cerebral artery (r-ACM) (Fig. 2A and B). Non-contrast CT revealed a slight loss of right frontoparietal cortical differentiation and petechial hemorrhage that contraindicated thrombolysis. We performed a mechanical thrombectomy 2 h after the onset, with complete reperfusion achieved (Fig. 2F–I).

Fig. 2.

Malignant stroke. Right ACM obstruction. (A, B) CTA: Stop in M1 and absence of flow in the right insular region of the r-ACM (Yellow Arrow); contralateral normal flow (Black Arrow). (C) A malignant infarction (*) of the r-ACM that exerts midline deviation. (D, E) Right decompressive hemicraniectomy with an improvement of midline displacement. (F, G) Angiography: The absence of flow in the r-ACM. Thrombus in segment M1 (yellow Arrow). (H, I) Flow restored in r-ACM after thrombectomy (Red Arrow). CTA: CT-Angio, CT: Computerized Tomography, r-MCA: Right Middle Cerebral Artery, ACA (Anterior Cerebral artery), PCA (Posterior Cerebral Artery).

On day 9, the patient showed signs of intracranial hypertension. CT revealed a malignant infarction of r-ACM (Fig. 2C). We performed an extensive right decompressive hemicraniectomy, observing a severe cerebral infarction. Control CT showed no postoperative complications and confirmed an extensive ischemic stroke with a significant transcranial herniation (Fig. 2D and E). The patient is awake, ETI removed, mobilizes the right side of the body and obeys simple orders.

Decision making in these patients was based on clinical and radiological findings. Surgery was indicated as in other patients with this type of stroke. COVID-19 status did not influence the surgical decision. Face masks, face shields, and personal protective equipment were worn during surgery. COVID-19 test was still positive 48 h before surgery.

Discussion

In COVID-19 patients, a stroke secondary to a significant vessel obstruction is infrequent.⁵ Literature reports thrombotic events in patients with COVID-19.⁶ We hypothesize ischemic events result from a combined process: (1) A pro-inflammatory and procoagulant/coagulopathy state seen in COVID-19 patients. (2) Vascular endothelial dysfunction potentiated by hypoxia. (3) Hemodynamic instability and immobilization.1, 6, 7

The latter manifested as the elevation of parameters such as C reactive protein, ferritin, d-dimer, fibrinogen and cytokines (Table 1).1, 6, 7 However, we observe infrequently an obstruction of a large-vessel of brain circulation.5, 7

It is worth noting the development of thrombi in these patients despite the use of enoxaparin prophylaxis (40 mg/day) from the beginning in both patients, as in other cases.⁶ A pro-coagulant state in SARS-CoV-2 may be responsible for the cerebrovascular accident because of thrombus formation 5–7. The question remains whether the “prophylactic” dose in these patients should be higher than usual or to use another type of heparin.⁶

We believe that congenital hypoplasia of right vertebral artery and the anatomical absence of both posterior communicating cerebral arteries has possibly contributed to the development of a more extensive stroke given the lack of collateral circulation in case 1.

Rapid decompression (facilitated by the appearance of a stroke in the hospital in case1) has possibly played an essential role in preventing definitive damage to the brain stem, as in other stroke cases not related to COVID-19⁸; possibly helping to his progressive neurological recovery, despite having presented bilateral mydriasis (case 1).

In both cases, mechanical thrombectomy did not allow to minimize the size of the stroke (both massive). We need further future clinical trials to test the efficacy of this technique in patients with SARS-CoV-2.

Conclusions

COVID-19 patients can develop large-scale ischemic strokes in previously healthy patients without risk factors.

The blockage of large arterial vessels, such as the vertebral artery, is possible. To the best of our knowledge, is the first reported case of partial obstruction of a vertebral artery in a patient with COVID-19. It is crucial to determine the type and dose of “prophylactic” heparin in these patients because of the potentially devastating sequelae, for which scientific studies are necessary.

The literature on the development of strokes in SARS-CoV-2 is still in development. We need more studies on the consequences of SARS-CoV-2 infection in the central nervous system and the appearance of neurological complications.

Decompressive surgery remains a life-saving maneuver in these patients (as in other non-COVID-19 strokes) and requires further investigation.