Perspective: The Case for Acute Large Vessel Ischemic Stroke in COVID-19 Originating Within Thrombosed Pulmonary Venules

Stroke, Ahead of Print. The main burden of SARS-CoV-2 falls on the lungs but neurological manifestations, the most disabling of which are strokes and which correlate with disease severity, are common. We proffer a novel mechanism for acute COVID-19 stroke whereby pulmonary vein clots developing within the characteristic pulmonary intravascular thrombotic lesions can embolize to the brain. Appreciation of this mechanism requires an understanding of the tricompartmental model of lung parenchyma oxygenation (the alveolus, the bronchial artery, and the pulmonary artery), all of which are compromised in COVID-19. Of these 3 sources, the bronchial artery plays a crucial role in COVID-19 stroke because the unique collaterals from bronchial artery to pulmonary vein which exist under normal physiological conditions (and which maintain venous patency when the pulmonary artery is blocked by embolus) are occluded, thus leading to venular thrombosis in the presence of hypercoagulability. Dislodgement of clots from this source translocates the pathology to the brain and is a disease mechanism, formerly rare, which may account for many cases of large vessel occlusion stroke in COVID-19. This mechanism extends the concept of cardioembolic stroke from endocardium retrogradely into the pulmonary circulation with which the left cardiac chambers lie in direct continuity, and which is an accepted stroke mechanism under other circumstances such as lung lobectomy, where surgical ligation of the pulmonary vein creates a blind sac from which thrombi can embolize. The proposed model is supported by postmortem studies which have demonstrated venular thrombosis and by case reports of pulmonary vein thrombosis in COVID-19. This concept provides a more plausible cause for COVID-19 associated large vessel occlusion stroke than other putative mechanisms, such as cerebral endotheliitis, cytokine storm, and hypercoagulopathy, although it is acknowledged that the latter mechanism contributes to the genesis of pulmonary vein clots. Recognizing that extrapulmonary manifestations including stroke arise within thrombosed pulmonary veins is key to understanding of neurological manifestations of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Leggi
Maggio 2022

300 'See us as humans. Speak to us with respect. Listen to us. A qualitative report on ambulance staff requirements of leadership whilst working during the COVID-19 pandemic

BackgroundThe COVID-19 Ambulance Response Assessment (CARA) study was a prospective, longitudinal survey of UK ambulance staff providing both direct and remote patient care during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. CARA aimed to evaluate perceptions of preparedness and wellbeing, and to collect staff suggestions to benefit working practices and conditions.MethodThree online questionnaires were presented, coinciding with the acceleration, peak and deceleration phases of the first COVID-19 wave. Inductive thematic analysis was employed to represent 14,237 free text responses from 3,717 participants to 18 free-text questions overall.ResultsA thematic framework was constructed from across the variety of questions that demonstrated participants’ objectives to minimise infection risks, maintain service delivery and support their own wellbeing. Additionally, the following requirements of national and organisational leadership were identified as enablers to achieving those objectives.Evidence-based policies, that are consistently applied, clearly communicated and accompanied by adequate training improve confidence and allay anxiety. Demonstrating learning, planning, and astute use of resources will further benefit trust in leadership and to support staff wellbeing there must also be meaningful dialogue and demonstrable empathy with further appropriate preventative and therapeutic interventions enabled.ConclusionInclusive, compassionate leadership will support both ambulance staff wellbeing and service delivery whilst working within pandemic conditions. New working practices should be introduced with transparency and staff experiences of implementing changes should be heeded by leadership to enable further policy development.Conflict of interestNone.FundingCollege of Paramedics.

Leggi
Maggio 2022