Minimally conscious state after ruptured giant basilar aneurysm.
OBJECTIVE
To report the clinical and radiologic findings in a case of transient minimally conscious state after rupture and coiling of a giant basilar aneurysm.


METHODS
Case report.


METHODS
Neuroscience intensive care unit.


METHODS
A 44-year-old man who developed a transient minimally conscious state in association with perianeurysmal edema in the rostral brainstem and thalamus after rupture and coiling of a giant basilar artery aneurysm.


METHODS
Correlation of clinical and magnetic resonance imaging findings.


RESULTS
A minimally conscious state and bilaterally symmetric vasogenic edema of the rostral brainstem and thalamus developed 2 days after endovascular aneurysm coiling. The clinical and radiologic abnormalities improved significantly and in parallel during the following 4 weeks.


CONCLUSIONS
Perianeurysmal vasogenic edema in the brainstem and thalamus can develop after rupture and coiling of a giant basilar artery aneurysm. This process can be transient and can produce dramatic alterations in consciousness that later resolve.
Burns
Joseph D
JD
Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, 200 First St SW, Rochester, MN 55905, USA. burns.joseph@mayo.edu
Rabinstein
Alejandro A
AA
Cloft
Harry
H
Lanzino
Giuseppe
G
Daniels
David J
DJ
Wijdicks
Eelco F M
EF
D000328:Adult; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001929:Brain Edema / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D003243:Consciousness / Q000502:physiology; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004621:Embolization, Therapeutic / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D002532:Intracranial Aneurysm / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D015840:Oculomotor Nerve Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D018458:Persistent Vegetative State / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D019736:Prostheses and Implants / Q000009:adverse effects; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D013681:Tegmentum Mesencephali / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D013788:Thalamus / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D003907:Dexamethasone