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Updated: Aug 19, 2026

Double Direct Injection of Blood into the Cisterna Magna as a Model of Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
Published on: August 30, 2020
Subarachnoid haemorrhage associated with infectious endocarditis: case report and literature review
F E Chukwudelunzu1, R D Brown, E F M Wijdicks
1Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic Rochester, Mayo Clinic and Mayo Foundation, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
Abstract:
Cases of subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) as a presenting feature or soon after initiation of antibiotics in infectious endocarditis (IE) have been reported. However, most had documented mycotic aneurysms as the source of haemorrhage. Reports of IE associated with SAH of unclear source are rare. A case of SAH associated with IE is reported. We also reviewed our data set on neurological complications of IE at Mayo Clinic Rochester from 1980 to 1996 for additional cases. In addition to the index case, we identified seven cases of SAH amongst 489 patients (1%) with IE for a total of eight cases. In six patients, initial cerebral angiography, magnetic resonance angiography or autopsy did not show aneurysm or other aetiology for the SAH. A mycotic aneurysm was noted in one case and the other patient had an unruptured mycotic aneurysm of the tip of basilar artery. SAH was located in the basal cistern in two patients, sylvian fissure in three, and hemispheric sulci in three. SAH is an uncommon complication of IE, and in the setting of IE a specific cause, such as mycotic aneurysm, may not be identified.
Insights
Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is an uncommon complication of infectious endocarditis (IE). In many IE cases with SAH, the source of bleeding, like a mycotic aneurysm, may remain unidentified.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Infectious Diseases
- Cardiology
Background:
- Infectious endocarditis (IE) can lead to serious neurological complications.
- Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is a rare but significant neurological event associated with IE.
Observation:
- This study reports a case of SAH in a patient with IE.
- A review of 489 IE patients identified seven additional cases of SAH, totaling eight cases.
- In six of these eight cases, the source of SAH was not identified through angiography or autopsy.
Findings:
- Mycotic aneurysms were identified as the source of SAH in only two cases.
- SAH occurred in various locations, including basal cisterns, sylvian fissures, and hemispheric sulci.
- A significant proportion of SAH cases in IE patients lacked an identifiable source.
Implications:
- SAH is an uncommon complication of IE.
- The source of SAH in IE may not always be a mycotic aneurysm.
- Further investigation is needed to understand the etiology of SAH in IE when aneurysms are absent.
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