Turkish Neurosurgery
Retrospective analysis of intracranial hemorrhages in the COVID-19 pandemic
Gürkan Berikol1, Göksu Bozdereli Berikol2, Halil Doğan2
1Taksim Training and Research Hospital, Neurosurgery, İstanbul,
2Istanbul Bakırköy Dr. Sadi Konuk Training and Research Hospital, Emergency Medicine, İstanbul,
DOI: 10.5137/1019-5149.JTN.33824-21.1

Aim:Intracranial hemorrhages have recently been investigated in terms of atypical presentation or complications of COVID-19. In this study, we aimed to identify the characteristics of patients admitted to the emergency department with intracranial hemorrhages in the era of the COVID-19 pandemic.Material and Methods:Seventy-eight patients with spontaneous intracranial bleeding who were admitted to emergency departments and treated in neurosurgery clinics between March 11, 2020, and September 11, 2020, were included in the study.Results:The most frequent symptom was the loss of consciousness (32.1%), followed by headache (15.4%), syncope (10.3%), motor loss (9%), and seizures (9%). Antiaggregant and anticoagulant drug use were detected in 37.2% of the patients. Intraparenchymal hematoma was the most common type of intracranial hemorrhage (59%). Viral pneumonia was detected in 52.6% of the patients in thorax CTs. Surgical treatment was applied to 23.1% of the patients. There was no significant difference between patients with pneumonia and patients without pneumonia in the treatment modalities or 30-day mortality.Conclusion:In this study, we found that low Glasgow Coma Scores affected mortality and that mechanical ventilation needs are higher in ICH patients with COVID-19. Nevertheless, the treatment differences may not have affected the outcomes.

Corresponding author : Gürkan Berikol