[Consequences of a nonrecognized subarachnoid hemorrhage]

Abstract

Report of a 42-year-old woman who had an acute severe headache, sickness, and a short-term seizure. After hospitalization, a computed tomography (CT) study was done and reported as normal. The discharge home followed after symptomatic treatment for 5 days. 10 days after the first acute onset appeared a second event with similar symptoms. Now, a subarachnoid hemorrhage with an intracerebral bleeding of the left frontal lobe was diagnosed in another hospital. This was suspicious for an aneurysm of the anterior communicating artery. It was treated with coiling and, in addition, an installation of an external cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) drainage was necessary because of a hydrocephalus with development of a temporary CSF leakage. The patient appealed to the fact-finding board for medical liability questions because of the misdiagnosis of the first treating hospital. The board found the adjustment of damages of the patient to be valid and recommended an extrajudicial regulation.