Effect of Decompression Craniectomy on Survival and Functional Outcome in Patients with COVID-19 and Malignant Infarct: A Retrospective Cohort Study and Review of Literature

Background and objective Amongst the varied neurological manifestations of COVID-19 infection, stroke is one of the common complications. A large portion of patients had large vessel occlusion (LVO) which increases the risk of malignant cerebral infarction requiring decompressive craniectomy. The impact of COVID-19, however, on decompressive craniectomy is not well described. Through this study, we aim to study the impact of decompressive craniectomy in COVID-19 patients presented to our tertiary care hospital. Material and methods Data of all acute ischemic stroke patients who tested COVID positive during the study period was collected. From among them, patients requiring decompressive craniectomy were included. The demographic, clinico-radiological parameters related to stroke, treatment received, outcome and complications were noted. In addition, data from all case reports and case series published on patients with COVID-19, who had developed ischemic stroke and underwent decompression craniectomy was collected and systematically reviewed. Results Twenty-seven stroke patients tested positive for COVID-19 infection, out of whom five patients underwent decompression hemicraniectomy in view of neurologic deterioration. The review of literature yielded 453 abstracts. After reading the full text of 69 articles, 12 studies on 15 patients finally met our inclusion criteria and were included in the systematic review. The mortality rate was 40% among stroke patients requiring decompressive craniectomy in COVID-19 patients. The mortality rate and functional outcomes of this cohort are comparable to the pre-pandemic period. Conclusion Decompressive craniectomy is a life-saving procedure in COVID-19 patients with malignant infarctions similar to patients in the pre-COVID-19 era.