Successful endovascular reconstruction of acutely ruptured pseudoaneurysm of the vertebral artery, complicated by isolated vertebrobasilar circulation and symptomatic vasospasm

Clin Neurol Neurosurg. 2009 Dec;111(10):868-73. doi: 10.1016/j.clineuro.2009.07.008. Epub 2009 Aug 19.

Abstract

The management of a ruptured pseudoaneurysm of intracranial vertebral artery (VA), which is the sole supplier to an isolated vertebrobasilar system, is challenging. The authors report on such a case in a 49-year-old man who suffered a grade III subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) caused by a dissecting fusiform pseudoaneurysm of the left VA. The right VA terminated in the posterior inferior cerebellar artery and posterior communicating arteries were absent. The patient developed symptoms consistent with vasospasm on day 9 after SAH, which was treated by intra-arterial vasolytic therapy, followed by stent placement and "in-stent" balloon angioplasty. Angiography 2 weeks later showed near-complete resolution of the pseudoaneurysm. At discharge, the patient's modified Rankin score was one. In this complicated case in which an isolated vertebrobasilar circulation precluded parent vessel sacrifice, we detail the successful management using a combination of intra-arterial vasolytic therapy, stent reconstruction, and balloon angioplasty.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aneurysm, False / complications*
  • Aneurysm, False / surgery*
  • Angioplasty, Balloon
  • Cerebral Angiography
  • Cerebral Revascularization*
  • Cerebrovascular Circulation
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Stents
  • Subarachnoid Hemorrhage / complications
  • Subarachnoid Hemorrhage / surgery
  • Vasospasm, Intracranial / complications*
  • Vertebral Artery / surgery*
  • Vertebrobasilar Insufficiency / complications*