Ischemic Stroke and COVID-19 Infection: an Analysis of Treatment Outcomes in Patients who Underwent Endovascular Thrombectomy

Abstract

Aim. This study aimed to compare and evaluate treatment outcomes in groups of ischemic stroke patients with or without COVID-19 infection who underwent endovascular thrombectomy (EVT). Materials and methods. We conducted a retrospective analysis of 817 case records of IS patients aged 25 to 99 years with confirmed thrombotic occlusion of cerebral arteries and subsequent EVT who were treated in regional vascular centers in St. Petersburg from January 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021. Results. Patients without COVID-19 had favorable outcome more often than patients with confirmed COVID-19 (35.0% vs. 7.3%, p 0.001); mortality rate was 30% vs. 52%, respectively (p 0.001). Conclusions. Intercurrent COVID-19 significantly worsened prognosis and increased risk of death in ischemic stroke patients who underwent EVT.

Keywords

• ischemic stroke
• endovascular thrombectomy
• cerebral artery thrombosis
• covid-19 infection
• severe respiratory infection