Fatal cerebellar stroke following emergency endovascular stent grafting of a leaking thoracic aortic aneurysm: A case report

Abstract

Stent-grafting of thoracic aortic diseases has developed as an alternative therapeutic modality in thoracic aneurysm management. Postprocedural complications include mortality, endoleaks, paraplegia and stroke. Other complications that may arise in cases of overstenting the origin of the left subclavian arther include left upper limb ischemia, subclavian steal syndrome and stroke. Posterior circulation strokes due to vertebral artery insufficiency have been reported in the past. In the present case, a fatal stroke caused by a cerebellar infarct culminating in the death of a patient with a leaking thoracic aortic aneurysm is reported. Medical personnel as well as patients should be aware of this possible complication. Vigilance in assessing the contralateral cerebral circulation before the procedure is a prerequisite in less acute circumstances.