Ruptured giant middle cerebral artery aneurysm in infancy

Reem A Al-Youbi1, Mohammed S Binmahfoodh, Hayat Z Kamfar

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, King Abdul-Aziz University, Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Insights

Ruptured giant intracranial aneurysms are rare in infants. Prompt neurosurgical intervention in infants with acute raised intracranial pressure can lead to favorable outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Pediatric Neurosurgery

Background:

  • Intracranial aneurysms are rare in children, with ruptured giant aneurysms being exceptionally uncommon in infants.
  • Infants presenting with acute neurological deterioration require urgent diagnosis and management.

Observation:

  • A case of an 11-month-old female infant with a ruptured giant middle cerebral artery aneurysm presenting with unresponsiveness and seizures.
  • Urgent craniotomy was performed for aneurysm clipping and hematoma evacuation.

Findings:

  • The infant experienced a slow recovery with residual right-sided weakness.
  • Follow-up angiography confirmed no residual aneurysm, but the child developed motor delay and recurrent seizures.
  • Physiotherapy enabled independent walking by age 3.

Implications:

  • Intracranial aneurysms should be considered in the differential diagnosis for infants with acute raised intracranial pressure.
  • Prompt management in specialized neurosurgical centers is crucial for improving outcomes in pediatric patients with ruptured intracranial aneurysms.

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