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Stroke, Vol 23, 114-116, Copyright © 1992 by American Heart Association

ARTICLES

Postpartum dissecting aneurysm of the basilar artery

E Van de Kelft, J Kunnen, L Truyen and L Heytens
Department of Neurosurgery, Universitair Ziekenhuis Antwerpen, Edegem, Belgium.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Dissecting aneurysms arising from the vertebrobasilar complex are rare and difficult to manage. More of their natural history needs to be known before treatment can be optimized. CASE DESCRIPTION: We report a postpartum dissecting aneurysm of the right vertebrobasilar artery in a 31-year-old woman that was confirmed by angiographic identification of a double lumen. The intracranial segment of the right vertebral artery was thrombosed proximal to the aneurysm. The patient, managed conservatively, recovered well and, when reexamined 2 months later, was found to be neurologically intact. A repeat angiographic study at that time demonstrated that the aneurysm had resolved. CONCLUSIONS: Proximal occlusion may have protected the aneurysm from rupture and further dissection, thereby making surgery unnecessary.