EC Clinical and Medical Case Reports

Case Report Volume 6 Issue 7 - 2023

Ischemic Stroke due to Percheron Artery Occlusion: A Rare Post COVID-19 Complication

Khaoula Ben Ismail1,2*, Fatma Essafi1,2, Ahlem Silini1, Boudour Ben Dhia1, Najla Ben Slimene1,2, Imen Talik1, Moez Kaddour1 and Takoua Merhbene1,2

1University of Tunis EI Manar, Faculty of Medicine, Medical Intensive Care Unit, Regional Hospital of Zaghouan, Tunisia

2Research Unit for Respiratory Failure and Mechanical Ventilation UR22SP01, Abderrahmen Mami Hospital, Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Ariana, Tunisia

*Corresponding Author: Khaoula Ben Ismail, Intensive Care Unit, Regional Hospital of Zaghouan and Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, El Manar University, Tunisia.
Received: March 27, 2023; Published: June 16, 2023



Arterial thromboembolic events are actually described as complications of COVID-19 in both acute and post-COVID phases. The artery occlusion Percheron (AOP) occasioning bithalamic infarction is rarely described in this context. A 44-year-old woman with a history of hypertension and obesity, not vaccinated against Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), was admitted for status epilepticus. She was comatose requiring invasive mechanical ventilation. Asymmetric reactivity pupilla was noted with mydriasis of the right on. At the resumption of the interrogation, the family reported a flu-like syndrome two months ago. Serology COVID-19 confirmed previous immunity. Rt-PCR was negative. Thoracic CT showed suitable sequelae of COVID-19 lesions. A post-COVID19 thromboembolic complication was suspected. Cerebral angio MRI showed bithalamic hypersignal lesions without hemorrhagic stigmata and without enhancement related to acute ischemic nature. The patient was given atorvastatin, antiplatelet aspirin and curative anticoagulagulation. Clinical improvement was noted and she was extubated. However, she remained sleepy with an apathetic state, an inappropriate verbal response and memory disorders.

Although this is a rare anatomical variant, the occlusion of the Percheron artery must be suspected in front of a paramedic thalamic infarction. Complexity of clinical manifestations explains difficulty of early diagnosis.

Keywords: Artery of Percheron; Stroke; Thalamic Stroke; Covid-19; Bilateral Thalamic Stroke; Atypical Stroke; Stroke and Covid-19; Post COVID19-Syndrome

Khaoula Ben Ismail., et al. "Ischemic Stroke due to Percheron Artery Occlusion: A Rare Post COVID-19 Complication." EC Clinical and Medical Case Reports   6.7 (2023): 157-160.