Cerebrovascular Accident Manifesting as Altered Mental Status During a Telehealth Visit: Preoperative Evaluation in the COVID-19 Era

Abstract

We present the case of a 91-year-old patient scheduled for a preoperative telehealth evaluation who was found to have altered mental status from an acute stroke. Her care, if delayed, could have caused permanent morbidity during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. This case highlights the digital leap the pandemic spurred: 1. telehealth in the elderly, 2. meaningful history and physical during telehealth visit, 3. family engagement and education, and 4. meaningful impact on patient outcomes.