Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Vascular Diseases , Humans , Pulmonary Artery/diagnostic imaging , Pulmonary Circulation , SARS-CoV-2Subject(s)
Coronavirus Infections/complications , Heart Arrest/etiology , Heart Arrest/mortality , Hospital Mortality/trends , Outcome Assessment, Health Care , Pneumonia, Viral/complications , Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome/complications , Adult , Age Factors , Aged , COVID-19 , Cause of Death , Cohort Studies , Coronavirus Infections/epidemiology , Critical Illness/mortality , Critical Illness/therapy , Female , Heart Arrest/therapy , Hospitals, Teaching , Humans , Intensive Care Units , Male , Middle Aged , New York City , Pandemics , Pneumonia, Viral/epidemiology , Retrospective Studies , Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome/therapy , Sex FactorsABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Young patients with malignant cerebral edema have been shown to benefit from early decompressive hemicraniectomy. The impact of concomitant infection with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and how this should weigh in on the decision for surgery is unclear. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed all COVID-19-positive patients admitted to the neuroscience intensive care unit for malignant edema monitoring. Patients with >50% of middle cerebral artery involvement on computed tomography imaging were considered at risk for malignant edema. RESULTS: Seven patients were admitted for monitoring of whom 4 died. Cause of death was related to COVID-19 complications, and these were either seen both very early and several days into the intensive care unit course after the typical window of malignant cerebral swelling. Three cases underwent surgery, and 1 patient died postoperatively from cardiac failure. A good outcome was attained in the other 2 cases. CONCLUSIONS: COVID-19-positive patients with large hemispheric stroke can have a good outcome with decompressive hemicraniectomy. A positive test for COVID-19 should not be used in isolation to exclude patients from a potentially lifesaving procedure.