Monkey Scare Leads to Life-Saving Brain Aneurysm Diagnosis

A Fright Turns Into a Medical Wake-Up Call
A neuroscience doctor holding a clipboard showing treatment against brain disease to the patient with eeg headset.
1 in 50 people globally have an unruptured brain aneurysm (around 3–5% of the population). Only about 0.5–1% of these aneurysms rupture each year. Brain aneurysms are more common in women than men, with a ratio of about 3:2.Representative Image: FreePik
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What started as a usual morning for a 32-year-old homemaker in Bengaluru took a dramatic turn and ended up being a lifesaver, courtesy of an unexpected guest in the form of a monkey. The woman shrieked and collapsed on the spot upon taken aback by the sudden entry of the animal into the house.

She experienced a thunderclap headache, a term commonly used in the medical community to describe a severe headache, seconds later. Although she dismissed the experience as a panic attack at first, her symptoms persisted and worsened over the next few days.

Worsening Symptoms Prompt Medical Attention

Over the next four days, the woman started experiencing dizziness and diplopia, prompting her to go for treatment at a local clinic, where initial drugs gave her little relief as the diplopia did not subside, along with other associated symptoms.

She felt that something serious might be going on and so went to see Dr. Shobha N., Consultant Neurologist and Stroke Specialist at Manipal Hospital, Malleswaram. Following a thorough evaluation and imaging studies, Dr. Shobha found that the true condition was a brain aneurysm and subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), a potentially lethal neurological emergency. She was then referred to her colleague Dr. Sharan Srinivasan, Consultant – Neurosurgeon at the same hospital, for her treatment.

Understanding Brain Aneurysm and Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
A brain aneurysm is when a bulge or balloon-like swelling occurs in a brain blood vessel that can rupture and bleed. Here, the aneurysm occurred at a critical bifurcation, the bifurcation of the left middle cerebral artery. A subarachnoid hemorrhage is caused by bleeding into the space around the brain, typically due to a ruptured aneurysm. It is an emergency and potentially life-threatening condition, requiring immediate treatment.

Brain aneurysms often go unnoticed until they rupture. They are like hidden time bombs. In this case, the sudden spike in blood pressure caused by panic could have triggered a bleed.

Dr. Sharan Srinivasan, Consultant – Neurosurgeon at Manipal Hospital

A computer with MRI brain diagram on screen, ready for oncology examination.
Subarachnoid Hemorrhage (SAH) accounts for only 5% of all strokes, but it is among the most deadly types. Mortality rate after a ruptured aneurysm ranges from 30% to 40%, and up to 15% die before reaching a hospital. Of the survivors, about 30–40% suffer long-term neurological impairment.Representative Image: FreePik

Minimally invasive surgery comes to the rescue.

To fix the aneurysm, the patient underwent a minimally invasive endovascular coiling operation. A catheter was guided through a blood vessel in the brain, and tiny platinum coils were inserted into the aneurysm to stop any further bleeding.

A stent was also inserted to keep the coils in position and strengthen the blood vessel. Dr Srinivasan said,

It’s a complex and delicate procedure, but is minimally invasive. Hence, the procedure does not involve any large incisions, hence, guarantees faster recovery, and lower risk of complications. The aneurysm is sealed from the inside, much like patching a weak spot in a pipe without dismantling the whole structure

A horrifying stroke of fortune

Thanks to timely medical intervention and the bizarre stimulus of a monkey scare, the patient received his life-saving treatment in time. She is now recovering.

Dr Srinivasan stated to The Hindu, “This case of a monkey’s surprise visit leading to an unexpected diagnosis and apt treatment, is a powerful reminder that seemingly trivial or unusual incidents like a sudden scare can unmask serious health conditions.”

(Input from various sources)

(Rehash/Muhammad Faisal Arshad/MSM)

A neuroscience doctor holding a clipboard showing treatment against brain disease to the patient with eeg headset.
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