Massive Hemorrhage from Arterial Access during Intracranial Aneurysm Stent-Assisted Embolization: Endovascular

James T Bui1, Robert Jajko1, Sean P Zivin1

  • 1Division of Interventional Radiology, Department of Radiology, University of Illinois Hospital and Health Sciences System, Chicago, Illinois.

Massive hemorrhage from arterial access in patients receiving anticoagulation and antiplatelet therapy is a rare but potentially devastating complication. The authors present a patient who developed a large retroperitoneal and anterior abdominal wall hemorrhage following an unintentional and unrecognized arterial injury during an endovascular procedure. Reversal of anticoagulation in patients who have undergone stent-assisted coil embolization of intracranial aneurysms is an undesirable approach due to the risk of thromboembolism; rather, transcatheter embolization of the bleeding source should be considered.