• C Baracchini, A Pieroni, M Kneihsl, E Azevedo, M Diomedi, L Pascazio, J Wojczal, C Lucas, E Bartels, N M Bornstein, L Csiba, J Valdueza, G Tsivgoulis, and B Malojcic.
• Stroke Unit and Neurosonology Laboratory, Padua University Hospital, Padua, Italy.
• Eur. J. Neurol. 2020 Sep 1; 27 (9): 1776-1780.

Background And PurposePatients with acute ischemic stroke are at high-risk for contracting COVID-19 infection. Additionally, healthcare professionals including neurovascular ultrasound providers are also at risk of being infected by SARS-CoV-2 virus. Yet, preparedness to continue to guarantee hyperacute treatment is vital for patients outcome. In light of this situation, the European Society of Neurosonology and Cerebral Hemodynamic (ESNCH) appointed a task force to provide consensus recommendations for the performance of neurovascular ultrasound investigations in acute ischemic stroke during the COVID-19 pandemic with the aim of protecting both patients and ultrasound providers.MethodsThe "ultrasound in acute stroke working group" of the ESNCH examined literature articles and reviews using the following key words: "corona virus" or "COVID-19" or "SARS-CoV-2 virus", and "acute stroke" or "cerebrovascular disease", and "ultrasound". Thereafter, a thorough discussion was conducted with the "education and guidelines working group" of the ESNCH.ResultsWe propose rapid up-to-date recommendations for healthcare personnel involved in the pre-hospital and intra-hospital assessment of stroke patients, with a particular attention to neurovascular ultrasound performance.ConclusionThe ESNCH provides a guidance summary for the performance of neurovascular ultrasound investigations in acute ischemic stroke in the time of COVID-19.© 2020 European Academy of Neurology.

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