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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.
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
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)
