Spontaneous Brainstem Hemorrhagic Stroke in the Setting of Novel Coronavirus Disease 2019 – A Case Report

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and has become a global pandemic. This disease has been shown to affect various organ systems, including the cerebrovascular system with sequelae still not completely uncovered. We present an unusual case of extensive brainstem intraparenchymal hemorrhage in a patient with COVID-19 to caution readers of this possible complication in patients positive for COVID-19. In this report, we outline the clinical presentation of a 40-year-old male who developed severe coughing and sneezing before presenting to the emergency department with confusion, somnolence, and respiratory distress. CT head without contrast revealed extensive pontine and midbrain hemorrhage with intraventricular extension and early hydrocephalus. Neurological examination revealed pinpoint, minimally reactive pupils, withdrawal to painful stimuli in the right hemibody, left hemibody paresis, and intact left corneal, cough, and gag reflexes. MRI and MRA brain revealed no evidence of an underlying vascular lesion. Over the next two days, the patient had worsening multiorgan failure and hypoxemia without intracranial hypertension. He remained too unstable to undergo cerebral angiogram. On hospital day four, his neurological examination deteriorated to quadriparesis and only cough and gag reflexes remaining intact after which his family opted for comfort measures only. In summary, a potential increased risk of intracerebral hemorrhage adds to the complexity of management of patients with COVID-19. This is especially true in those who have violent sneezing or coughing, or those who are on anticoagulation or antiplatelet therapy.