Simultaneous bilateral mechanical thrombectomy in a patient with COVID-19.

Owing to systemic inflammation and widespread vessel endotheliopathy, SARS-CoV-2 has been shown to confer an increased risk of cryptogenic stroke, particularly in patients without any traditional risk factors. In this report, we present a case of a 67-year-old female who presented with acute stroke from bilateral anterior circulation large vessel occlusions, and was incidentally found to be COVID-positive on routine hospital admission screening. The patient had a large area of penumbra bilaterally, and the decision was made to pursue bilateral simultaneous thrombectomy, with two endovascular neurosurgeons working on each side to achieve a faster time to recanalization. Our study highlights the utility and efficacy of simultaneous bilateral thrombectomy, and this treatment paradigm should be considered for use in patients who present with multifocal large vessel occlusions.

Monocular visual loss as the presenting symptom of COVID-19 infection.

BACKGROUND AND IMPORTANCE: Additional time is needed to determine the exact impact of COVID-19 on acute cerebrovascular disease incidence, but recently published data has correlated COVID-19 to large vessel occlusion strokes. CLINICAL PRESENTATION: We report the first case of central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO) as the initial manifestation of COVID-19 infection. Subsequent neuroimaging revealed a large thrombus extending into the internal carotid artery. CONCLUSION: This case illustrates the need to suspect COVID-19 infection in patients presenting with retinal arterial occlusion, including individuals who are asymptomatic or minimally symptomatic for COVID-19 infection.

Ultrasound-Guided Ventricular Puncture During Cranioplasty.

BACKGROUND: In patients with brain parenchyma extending beyond the craniectomy defect, cerebrospinal fluid diversion may be necessary to facilitate proper bone flap replacement during cranioplasty. In this study, we present our case series of patients who underwent ultrasound-guided ventricular puncture during cranioplasty and report periprocedural metrics and clinical outcomes. METHODS: A retrospective study of patients who presented for cranioplasty that required ultrasound-guided ventricular puncture was performed. We also describe our operative technique for safely and accurately performing ultrasound-guided ventricular puncture. RESULTS: Ten consecutive patients were included in the overall patient cohort, all of whom required intraoperative ventricular puncture to achieve brain relaxation. The mean time between decompressive hemicraniectomy and cranioplasty was 145.4 days (range 19-419). The mean duration of cranioplasty operation was 146 minutes (range 74-193). All patients underwent ultrasound-guided ventricular puncture, and 5 patients had an external ventricular drain left in place for postoperative intracranial pressure monitoring and possible cerebrospinal fluid drainage. There were no instances of pericatheter hemorrhage. One patient presented postoperatively with wound infection, and this same patient was the only one in the cohort who required subsequent ventriculoperitoneal shunt for symptomatic hydrocephalus. CONCLUSIONS: Ultrasound-guided ventricular puncture is safe, feasible, and efficacious for use during cranioplasty to help facilitate bone flap replacement in patients with "full" brains, with an overall low rate of associated periprocedural complications. Although further studies are needed in a larger patient cohort, this technique should be considered to help reduce the morbidity associated with cranioplasty.

Sphenopalatine ganglion stimulation is a reversible and frequency-dependent modulator of the blood-brain barrier.

BACKGROUND: The sphenopalatine ganglion (SPG) is a vasoactive mediator of the anterior intracranial circulation in mammals. SPG stimulation has been demonstrated to alter blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability, although this phenomenon is not well characterized. OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of SPG stimulation on the BBB using rat models. METHODS: Extravasation of fluorescent tracer 70 kDa FITC-dextran into rat brain specimens was measured across a range of stimulation parameters to assess BBB permeability. Tight junction (TJ) morphology was compared by assessing differences in the staining of proteins occludin and ZO-1 and analyzing ultrastructural changes on transmission electron microscopy (TEM) between stimulated and unstimulated specimens. RESULTS: SPG stimulation at 10 Hz maximally increased BBB permeability, exhibiting a 6-fold increase in fluorescent traceruptake (1.66% vs 0.28%, p < 0.0001). This effect was reversed 4-hours after stimulation (0.36% uptake, p = 0.99). High-frequency stimulation at 20 Hz and 200 Hz did not increase tracer extravasation, (0.26% and 0.28% uptake, p = >0.999 and p = 0.998, respectively). Stimulation was associated a significant decrease in the colocalization of occludin and ZO-1 with endothelial markers in stimulated brains compared to control (74.6% vs. 39.7% and 67.2% vs. 60.4% colocalization, respectively, p < 0.0001), and ultrastructural changes in TJ morphology associated with increased BBB permeability were observed on TEM. CONCLUSION: This study is the first to show a reversible, frequency-dependent increase in BBB permeability with SPG stimulation and introduces a putative mechanism of action through TJ disruption. Bypassing the BBB with SPG stimulation could enable new paradigms in delivering therapeutics to the CNS. Further study of this technology is needed.