ABSTRACT
Subdural effusions (SE) have already been associated with several viruses, but there are few associations with Covid-19 reported to date, and all of them had one thing in common: the presence of superimposed bacterial rhinosinusitis. Here we describe the case of a 76-year-old male patient that was transferred to our center due to severe SARS-CoV-2 infection and developed a SE during hospital stay. He presented sensory level impairment during hospitalization, but an initial Head CT scan showed no alterations. A new CT scan performed six days later evidentiated a bilateral SE. The patient had a cardiorespiratory arrest during the night of the same day, resulting in death. Covid-19 as a direct cause of subdural effusion (positive Covid-19 PCR in subdural fluid) has never before been reported in the literature, and, unfortunately, it was not possible to rule out or confirm this phenomenon in our case due to the rapid evolution of the clinical picture. However, our case clearly differs from the literature as the patient did not show any signs of sinus disease or intracranial hypotension, and the possible causes of the effusion boil down to spontaneity and the direct action of Covid-19 in the CNS and subdural space.
ABSTRACT
Objective: The present study seeks to overcome the lack of data on Covid-19 associated intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) in Brazil. Methods: This is a retrospective, single-center case series of consecutive patients. It is a subanalysis of a larger study still in progress, which covers all neurological manifestations that occurred in patients admitted between March 1st, 2020 and June 1st, 2022, with active SARS-CoV-2 infection confirmed by polymerase chain reaction test. All patients with non-traumatic ICH were included. Results: A total of 1675 patients were evaluated: 917 (54.75 %) had one or more neurological symptoms and 19 had non-traumatic ICH, comprising an incidence of 1.13 %. All patients had one or more risk factors for ICH. The presence of neurological manifestations before the ICH and ICU admission showed a statistically significant relationship with the occurrence of ICH (X2 = 6.734, p = 0.0095; OR = 4.47; CI = 1.3-15.4; and FET = 9.13; p = <0.001; OR = 9.15; CI = 3.27-25.5 respectively). Conclusion: Our findings were largely congruent with the world literature. We believe that the assessment of risk factors can accurately predict the subgroup of patients at increased risk of ICH, but further studies are needed to confirm these hypotheses.
ABSTRACT
Decompressive craniectomy has been increasingly used in recent decades for the treatment of uncontrollable intracranial hypertension caused by trauma, malignant strokes, cerebral venous thrombosis, among others. Sinking flap syndrome (SFS) is a rare complication characterized by neurological deterioration after craniectomy. Here, we report the case of a 73-year-old female patient who presented with disorientation, lip rhyme deviation to the right and left hemiparesis after cardiac catheterization. In view of the presence of a malignant stroke, as well as the willingness of the family members to make a total investment to save the patient's life, decompressive hemicraniectomy was indicated. Subsequently, due to occasional headache attacks, nausea and vomiting, in addition to progressive depression of the subcutaneous flap, the possibility of SFS was suggested and cranioplasty was indicated, which occurred without perioperative intercurrences. Although the patient maintained a stable neurological status, a post-surgical computed tomography (CT) scan of the head showed a right intraparenchymal hemorrhagic lesion, associated with parenchymal expansion and midline deviation. To the best of our knowledge, intraparenchymal hemorrhages are not common complications after performing cranioplasty, and additional studies are needed to understand the reasons why this occurs. The mechanisms responsible for this type of injury are not well understood, but involve reperfusion damage and loss of brain compliance. Despite representing an uncommon complication, post-cranioplasty hemorrhage can cause severe morbidity to the patient, and early diagnosis and intervention are of great importance in these cases.
