Chennai, 12th
February 2025: Kauvery Hospital, Alwarpet, successfully treated 54-year-old
woman who was admitted with a life-threatening bleed in the brain after
suffering from a ruptured brain aneurysm. The patient, who had no previous
health issues, suddenly collapsed and lost consciousness at home. She was
rushed to Kauvery Hospital's emergency department, where she was evaluated
immediately.
Upon arrival, she showed signs of severe brain dysfunction,
with a low Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score of 6 out of 15, indicating
significant neurological impairment. The GCS is a scale used to assess the level
of consciousness in a person following a head injury, and a score of 6 suggests
that the patient was in a very serious condition. A CT scan was done, revealing
that the woman was suffering from a subarachnoid hemorrhage, which is a type of
bleeding in the brain. Further scans revealed that the source of the bleeding
was a ruptured intracranial aneurysm, a weakened area in a blood vessel that
had burst, causing bleeding within the brain. This condition is highly
dangerous and can be fatal if not treated swiftly.
The aneurysm was located in a major blood vessel at the base
of the brain, known as the internal carotid artery (ICA), which supplies blood
to important parts of the brain. The patient’s condition was so critical that
she required urgent action to stop the bleeding and prevent further damage. A
multidisciplinary team of doctors—including neurologists, interventional
radiologists, and neurosurgeons decided to proceed with an advanced, less
invasive approach called endovascular intervention. This method involves
placing a specialized device inside the blood vessels to treat the aneurysm
without the need for open surgery.
Dr. Sathya
Narayanan R, Senior consultant Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology at
Kauvery Hospital, led the team in performing this
delicate procedure. Despite the aneurysm’s large size and difficult position,
the team successfully inserted a flow diverter device, a type of stent, inside
the blood vessel. This device helps divert blood flow away from the aneurysm,
preventing further rupture and bleeding. While the procedure was done
successfully the critical aspect of the treatment was preventing damage to the
brain from the already leaked blood.
Following the intervention, the patient was transferred to
the hospital's Intensive Care Unit (ICU), where she was monitored closely.
Fortunately, there were no additional complications, and the patient gradually
regained consciousness. After several days of intensive care, the patient was
weaned off the ventilator and breathing on her own. This marked a significant
milestone in her recovery, as it indicated that her body was beginning to heal
and stabilize. Within two weeks of the procedure, the patient was fully awake
and alert, with a GCS of 15/15, indicating that her brain function had returned
to normal levels. She was moved to the ward for further recovery and she was
discharged after three weeks of hospitalization.
Dr. Sathya Narayanan R, who led the intervention, said,
“This case was particularly challenging due to the size and location of the
aneurysm. However, with the support of our experienced multidisciplinary team,
we were able to perform the procedure successfully and prevent further
complications. The patient’s family was fully involved in the decision-making
process, and they were incredibly supportive. It’s rewarding to see her
recovering so well after such a critical event.”
Dr.
Aravindan Selvaraj, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Kauvery Hospitals, added, “This successful outcome highlights the importance
of quick action, advanced technology, and collaboration among various medical
specialties. The teamwork shown in this case is a prime example of how we
provide the best care for our patients in life-threatening situations.”