Necessity of brain imaging in COVID-19 infected patients presenting with acute neurological deficits

Patients undergoing cardiopulmonary stabilization in the intensive care unit for novel coronavirus (COVID-19) are often sedated, placing timely assessment of a neurological decline at risk.

Here, we present two cases of COVID-19 infected young patients transferred to our facility in a cardio-pulmonary crisis, with a poor neurological exam. While there was significant delay in obtaining brain imaging in the first patient, the second patient had timely recognition of her ischemic infarct, underwent emergent surgery, and is now doing well.

These cases highlight the importance of early head imaging in COVID-19 patients with a poor neurological exam. While lungs remain the primary target of COVID-19, these cases alert the medical community to suspect involvement of the central nervous system, since there may be life-saving surgical interventions available.