Oropharyngeal swab for SARS-CoV-2 test causing atypical internal carotid artery dissection and stroke in a patient after mild COVID-19. (July 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Asan, Livia; Deuschl, Cornelius; Forsting, Michael; Kleinschnitz, Christoph; Köhrmann, Martin
• Is Part Of: Therapeutic advances in neurological disorders. Volume 14(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-07
• Subjects: cervical artery dissection -- COVID-19 -- SARS-CoV-2 -- stroke -- swab; Nervous system -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Nervous system -- Degeneration -- Periodicals; Nervous system -- Diseases -- Treatment -- Periodicals; Nervous System Diseases -- therapy -- Periodicals; Neurodegenerative Diseases -- Periodicals; Système nerveux -- Maladies -- Périodiques; Système nerveux -- Dégénérescence -- Périodiques; Système nerveux; Système nerveux -- Maladies -- Traitement -- Périodiques; 616.805
• DOI: 10.1177/17562864211033521
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1756-2856

Abstract

We report a patient who had recovered from pneumonia caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) presenting with acute cerebral ischemia due to atypical dissection of the left internal carotid artery immediately after an oropharyngeal swab (OPS) for SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR testing. The symptoms consisting of right-side hemiparesis and aphasia improved after systemic thrombolysis and the patient recovered completely in the further course. We demonstrate findings from imaging (computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, neurovascular ultrasound) among other investigations and discuss coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-related vessel wall vulnerability as well as tissue injury posed by the swab procedure as underlying causes of the dissection. Individuals performing OPSs during the corona pandemic should be aware of this so far undescribed complication.