Concealment of Allergic Reactions to Alteplase by Face Masks in Non-Communicating Acute Stroke Patients: A Warning Call to Improve Our Physical Examination Practices during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Neurological emergencies, such as acute stroke, are especially challenging during the current Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Symptoms as aphasia or dysarthria are severely impacting cooperation and communication with patients. During physical examination, both the patient and the medical team are fitted routinely with surgical masks to minimize potential exposure to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). However, such a practice can lead to concealment of particularly relevant physical signs. We report a case series of four acute stroke patients who were transferred for endovascular mechanical thrombectomy to our institute after intravenous thrombolysis was initiated at primary stroke centers. Upon arrival, after removing their masks, we observed oral angioedema, as a reaction to thrombolytic agent alteplase. Symptoms remained obscured by face masks through patient care at the referring stroke unit and during transportation, nevertheless they resolved after treatment. Most probably, there are a number of similar cases encountered at emergency departments and acute stroke units. To improve patient safety, a compromise between ensuring protection against the novel coronavirus and facilitating detection of potentially life-threatening physical signs must be found.