Iatrogenic pseudoaneurysm rupture of the anterior cerebral artery after placement of an external ventricular drain, treated with clip-wrapping: a case report and review of the literature

Acta Neurochir (Wien). 2019 Jul;161(7):1371-1376. doi: 10.1007/s00701-019-03935-z. Epub 2019 May 17.

Abstract

External ventricular drains (EVDs) are often placed emergently for patients with hydrocephalus, which carries a risk of hemorrhage. Rarely, rupture of a pseudoaneurysm originating from an EVD placement precipitates such a hemorrhage. An EVD was placed in a patient with a ruptured left posterior communicating artery aneurysm who later underwent endovascular coil embolization. On post-bleed day 20, a distal right anterior cerebral artery pseudoaneurysm along the EVD tract ruptured, which was successfully treated via clip-wrapping. Although EVD-associated pseudoaneurysms are rare, they have a high propensity for rupture. Early treatment of these lesions should be considered to prevent neurologic deterioration.

Keywords: Clip-wrapping; External ventricular drain; Iatrogenic pseudoaneurysm rupture.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aneurysm, False / diagnosis
  • Aneurysm, False / etiology*
  • Aneurysm, Ruptured / diagnosis
  • Aneurysm, Ruptured / etiology*
  • Circle of Willis / pathology
  • Drainage / adverse effects*
  • Drainage / instrumentation
  • Embolization, Therapeutic / adverse effects*
  • Embolization, Therapeutic / instrumentation
  • Humans
  • Hydrocephalus / therapy
  • Iatrogenic Disease
  • Intracranial Aneurysm / diagnosis
  • Intracranial Aneurysm / etiology*
  • Male
  • Surgical Instruments / adverse effects*