Background and purpose

Post COVID-19 seizures are relatively rare. The aim of the present study was to estimate the frequency of acute symptomatic seizures among patients with COVID-19 and to discuss possible pathophysiological mechanisms.

Material and methods

Out of 439 cases with COVID-19 that were admitted to Assiut and Aswan University hospitals during the period from 1 June to 10 August 2020, 19 patients (4.3 %) presented with acute symptomatic seizures. Each patient underwent computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain and conventional electroencephalography (EEG). Laboratory investigations included: blood gases, complete blood picture, serum D-Dimer, Ferritin, C-reactive protein, renal and liver functions, and coagulation profile.

Results

Of the 19 patients, 3 had new onset seizures without underlying pathology (0.68 % out of the total 439 patients); 2 others (0.46 %) had previously diagnosed controlled epilepsy with breakthrough seizures. The majority of cases (14 patients, 3.19 %) had primary pathology that could explain the occurrence of seizures: 5 suffered a post COVID-19 stroke (3 ischemic and 2 hemorrhagic stroke); 6 patients had COVID-related encephalitis; 2 patients were old ischemic stroke patients; 1 patient had a brain tumor and developed seizures post COVID-19.

Conclusion

acute symptomatic seizure is not a rare complication of post COVID-19 infection. Both new onset seizures and seizures secondary to primary brain insult (post COVID encephalitis or recent stroke) were observed.

Background: The frequency of dysphagia varies considerably across literature. Post-stroke dysphagia is a common cause of increased morbidity and length of hospitalization. This study aimed to estimate the frequency, risk factors of dysphagia following first-ever ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke and its neuroradiological correlation. Methods: Two hundred fifty patients (180 ischemic and 70 hemorrhagic strokes) with first-ever stroke were recruited within 72 h of onset. Detailed history, neurological examination, and computed tomography and/or magnetic resonance were done for each patient. Severity of stroke was evaluated by the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS). Swallowing function was assessed by water swallowing test (WST) and dysphagia outcome severity scale (DOSS). Results: Ninety-eight (39.2%) of all stroke patients had dysphagia, 57 (31.7%) of ischemic group, 41 (58.6%) of hemorrhagic group. The mean age of ischemic group with dysphagia was older than ages of non-dysphagic and older than hemorrhagic stroke with dysphagia group. The mean total NIHSS was higher in dysphagic group than non-dysphagic group in both ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke. Dysphagia in ischemic group was highly associated with diabetes mellitus (DM), hypertension (HTN), and atrial fibrillation (AF). Dysphagia was commonly associated with middle cerebral artery (MCA), brainstem, and capsular infarctions as well as with intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) with ventricular extension. Stroke severity and lesion size were the main determinant of dysphagia severity. Conclusions: The frequency of post-stroke dysphagia is consistent with other studies. Advanced age, DM, HTN, and AF were the main risk factors. MCA, brain stem, capsular infarctions, and ICH with ventricular extension were frequently associated with dysphagia. Stroke severity and lesion size were independent predictors of dysphagia severity. Keywords: Post-stroke dysphagia, Frequency, Water swallowing test, Dysphagia outcome severity scale

Stent underexpansion is a common problem in heavily calcified coronary lesions treated with percutaneous coronary intervention, and has been associated with in-stent restenosis, stent thrombosis and, subsequently, poor clinical outcomes. Adequate preparation of heavily calcified coronary lesions (e.g. using non-compliant balloons, cutting/scoring balloons, rotational/orbital atherectomy or intravascular lithotripsy) prior to stent implantation is essential in preventing stent underexpansion. However, in certain cases the deployed stent may remain underexpanded despite extensive lesion preparation. To date, no consensus exists on how to treat stent underexpansion in this scenario.

We present a cases series in which post-stenting intravascular lithotripsy was performed to treat acute stent underexpansion in heavily calcified lesions, describing the technical aspects, angiographic results as well as clinical outcomes at mid-term follow-up.

Background

Severe coronary artery calcification is associated with poor procedural and clinical outcomes in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention. Rotational atherectomy (RA) and intravascular lithotripsy (IVL) are techniques used to optimize lesion preparation and facilitate stent implantation in this anatomical scenario. However, their comparative efficacy and safety remain unknown.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed 101 patients who underwent PCI utilizing RA or IVL for lesion preparation in heavily calcified balloon-crossable coronary stenosis. The primary endpoint was procedural success. In addition, the occurrence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE, defined as the composite of all-cause mortality, target lesion revascularization(TLR), stroke and stent thrombosis (ST)) at 6-months was analyzed.

Results

High rates of procedural success were achieved in both RA and IVL (82 % vs. 92 %; p = 0.25), with a low in hospital complication rate (8 % vs. 4 %; p = 0.678). No significant differences were found in overall MACE at 6-months (12 % vs 6 %; P = 0.487), death (8 % vs. 2 %; p = 0.362), TLR (2 % vs. 2 %; p = 1.000), stroke (2 % vs. 2 %; P = 1.000) or ST (2 % vs. 0 %; P = 1.000). Moreover, IVL is associated with a significantly shorter fluoroscopy time (32 [22–45] vs 26 [16–37]; P = 0.041).

Conclusions

Both IVL and RA are safe and effective methods for treatment of heavily calcified coronary lesions with similar outcomes at short term follow up.

Background and Purpose: There is little information on the acute cerebrovascular complications of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Egypt. The aim of this study was to estimate the proportion of acute cerebrovascular disease (CVD) among COVID-19 patients and evaluate their clinical and radiological characteristics in comparison with non-COVID-19 CVD.

Materials and Methods: In a retrospective study, COVID-19 patients whom presented with CVD in Assiut and Aswan University Hospitals were compared with non-COVID-19, CVD patients, admitted to Qena University Hospital, prior to the pandemic. The following data were collected: clinical history and presentation, risk factors, comorbidities, brain imaging (MRI or CT), chest CT, and some laboratory investigations.

Results: Fifty-five (12.5%) of the 439 patients with COVID-19 had acute CVD. Of them, 42 (9.6%) had ischemic stroke while 13 patients (2.9%) had hemorrhagic CVD. In the 250 cases of the non-COVID-19 group, 180 had ischemic stroke and 70 had hemorrhagic stroke. A large proportion of patients with COVID-19 who presented with ischemic stroke had large vessel occlusion (LVO), which was significantly higher than in non-COVID-19 patients with CVD (40 vs. 7.2%, P < 0.001). Comorbidities were recorded in 44 (80%) cases. In COVID-19 ischemic stroke patients, risk factors [hypertension and ischemic heart disease (IHD)] and comorbidities (hepatic and renal) were significantly higher than those in non–COVID-19 patients. In addition, 23.5% had hemorrhagic CVD, and six patients with LVO developed hemorrhagic transformation.

Conclusion: Acute CVD among patients with COVID-19 was common in our study. LVO was the commonest. Hypertension, IHD, and anemia are the most common risk factors and could contribute to the worsening of clinical presentation. Comorbidities were common among patients with CVD, although a large number had elevated liver enzymes and creatinine that were partially due to COVID-19 infection itself. The current results begin to characterize the spectrum of CVD associated with COVID-19 in patients in Upper Egypt.

Registration ID: The ID number of this study is IRB no: 17300470.