A CASE OF MIDDLE CEREBRAL ARTERY INFARCT FOLLOWING UNEVENTFUL CLIPPING OF ANTERIOR COMMUNICATING ARTERY ANEURYSM

Abstract

Background: Aneurysms of the anterior communicating artery are the most frequently encountered intracerebral aneurysms in routine neurosurgical practice. Management of intracerebral aneurysm involves aneurysm clipping or endovascular coil aneurysm embolisation. However, to the best of our knowledge, there is no reported case of an isolated ipsilateral middle cerebral artery infarction following clipping of anterior communicating artery aneurysm. Case Description: A 65-year-old female with hypertension presented with a history of giddiness, fall and altered sensorium. The patient had a Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score of 12, and further investigation of the magnetic resonance imaging on suspicion of stroke revealed subarachnoid haemorrhage in the bilateral parietal sulcus, left Sylvain ssure, left ambient and quadrigeminal cisterns with intra-ventricular extension. The patient was subsequently referred for neurosurgery consultation. Computed tomography (CT) angiogram conrmed the presence of a ruptured anterior communicating artery aneurysm. The neurological assessment showed reduced responsiveness to verbal commands, with a Hunt and Hess score of 3. The patient underwent uneventful clipping of the aneurysm. Postoperatively, the patient did not wake up from anaesthesia and had persistently elevated blood pressure and right-sided hemiplegia. On the third day of postoperative care, a CT head scan revealed a left middle cerebral artery infarction with a midline shift. Decompressive craniotomy was performed, and following this procedure, the patient improved in sensorium with residual right-sided hemiplegia Conclusion: This case report presents an undetected new micro embolism or postoperative cerebral vasospasm as possible causes for the development of cerebral infarct in patients with subarachnoid haemorrhage following an aneurysm rupture.