Ruptured Intracranial Vascular Aneurysm with Subarachnoid Haemorrhage: Autopsy Case Series and Literature Review

Abstract

Background: Subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) is a severe condition where bleeding occurs in the subarachnoid space surrounding the brain. SAH can be caused by a ruptured aneurysm or head injury leading to a stroke (with associated disability or death). Common symptoms include severe (thunderclap) headache, neck pain, nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light. Case Presentations: Firstly, a 58-year-old man presented with a history of severe headaches and inability to use the left side of his body, with a possible hemorrhagic right-sided hemispheric stroke diagnosis. Following death, an autopsy revealed a ruptured intracranial Charcot Bouchard aneurysm, with SAH as the cause. Secondly, a 35-year-old woman presented with a sudden loss of consciousness and three episodes of generalised tonic-clonic convulsion during a coital activity at a guest house. Following death, an autopsy revealed a ruptured middle cerebral artery’s saccular (berry) aneurysm, causing SAH with bilateral tonsillar herniation as the cause. These case series highlight the importance of autopsy in diagnosing SAH.