Protected Stroke Mechanical Thrombectomy Code During the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic: Southwestern Part of Saudi Arabia Stroke Unit Local Protocol

Saeed A Alqahtani; Ibrahim Alnaami; Adel Alhazzani

doi:10.7759/cureus.7808

Protected Stroke Mechanical Thrombectomy Code During the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic: Southwestern Part of Saudi Arabia Stroke Unit Local Protocol

Cureus. 2020 Apr 24;12(4):e7808. doi: 10.7759/cureus.7808.

Authors

Saeed A Alqahtani¹, Ibrahim Alnaami², Adel Alhazzani³

Affiliations

¹ Neurology, College of Medicine, King Khalid University, Abha, SAU.
² Neurosurgery, College of Medicine, King Khalid University, Abha, SAU.
³ Medicine, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, SAU.

Abstract

Cerebrovascular diseases are a significant cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide, in particular those with large vessels occlusion (LVO). Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has become a global crisis rapidly since its initial outbreak in Wuhan, China, in December, 2019. Stroke due to LVO needs rapid assessment and timely endovascular intervention which can be very challenging during the time of pandemic where you need to deliver proper, safe, and timely care to acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients with LVO, yet, protecting healthcare workers and existing patients at the medical facility. In this article, we share our local experience in the stroke unit at Aseer Central Hospital which is the main hub of stroke patients in the southwestern part of Saudi Arabia and the primary regional COVID center to provide guidance to perform smooth, safe, and swift mechanical thrombectomy during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic as well as possible similar future situations.

Keywords: coronavirus pandemic; covid 19; re-vascularization; stroke systems of care; tretment protocol.