Ruptured intracranial mycotic aneurysm: an unusual infectious complication following craniofacial surgery

C M Uchiyama1, D L Brockmeyer, W B Cherny

  • 1Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Utah School of Medicine, 50 North Medical Drive, Salt Lake City, UT 84132, USA.

Pediatric Neurosurgery
|September 11, 2001
PubMed

Insights

A child with Apert syndrome developed a ruptured intracranial mycotic aneurysm after craniofacial surgery. This rare complication, successfully treated with endovascular embolization, highlights risks following such procedures.

Area of Science:

  • Neurosurgery
  • Pediatric Neurology
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Craniofacial surgery in children, particularly those with Apert syndrome, carries risks of infectious complications.
  • Intracranial mycotic aneurysms are rare but serious vascular lesions often associated with systemic infections.

Observation:

  • A child with Apert syndrome experienced multiple infectious complications post-craniofacial surgery.
  • This led to the development and subsequent rupture of an intracranial mycotic aneurysm.

Findings:

  • The mycotic aneurysm was treated using an endovascular procedure for embolization of the aneurysm and parent vessel.
  • The patient recovered from infections but had persistent neurological deficits: right hemiparesis and left cranial nerve III palsy.

Implications:

  • This case represents the first reported instance of a mycotic aneurysm arising after craniofacial surgery.
  • Understanding risk factors and potential neurological complications is crucial for managing patients undergoing craniofacial procedures.

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