Long-term follow up of antegrade recanalization of vertebral artery dissecting aneurysm after internal trapping: case report

Abstract

A 34-year-old female presented with subarachnoid hemorrhage caused by the rupture of a right vertebral artery (VA) dissecting aneurysm. The affected site, including the aneurysm and parent artery, was successfully occluded with detachable coils. Follow-up angiography performed 28 days after the endovascular treatment revealed recanalization of the parent artery. We decided to treat the patient conservatively without further intervention because the aneurysm had been completely occluded. Magnetic resonance imaging showed a normal VA configuration with a minor irregularity of the affected wall at 6 years after onset. Rebleeding tends to occur during the acute stage because spontaneous healing of the dissecting vascular wall typically occurs within one month after onset. Our case suggests that additional intervention is unnecessary during the chronic stage once the aneurysm has been occluded and no further signs of the development of VA dissection are found.