A rare complication of cerebral venous thrombosis during simple percutaneous coronary intervention: A case report

Cerebrovascular accidents (CVAs) after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), although rare, are associated with high in-hospital morbidity and mortality rates. Cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) is an uncommon cause of CVAs compared with arterial disease but is associated with favorable outcomes in most cases. We present a rare case of CVT following a simple PCI procedure with stent implantation, which has not been previously reported in the literature.

A 78-year-old woman with hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and coronary artery disease received simple PCI with stent implantation. After PCI, she developed a throbbing headache with nausea and vomiting, with her blood pressure increasing to 190/100 mmHg. Drowsiness, disorientation, and neck stiffness were noted. Neurological complication due to the PCI procedure was highly suspected.

Noncontrast brain computed tomography was performed along with emergency neurological consultation, and the patient was diagnosed as having acute CVT.

The patient was treated with anti-intracranial pressure therapy and anticoagulation therapy through low-molecular-weight heparin and was subsequently treated with warfarin.

After treatment, the patient's symptoms and signs gradually subsided, and her clinical condition improved. She was discharged with full recovery thereafter.

A case of acute CVT, a rare, and atypical manifestation of venous thromboembolism and CVA, complicated simple PCI with stent implantation. During PCI, identifying patients with a high risk of a CVA is critical, and special care should be taken to prevent this devastating complication.