TREATMENT OF A BACTERIAL (MYCOTIC) INTRACRANIAL ANEURYSM USING AN ENDOVASCULAR APPROACH

THE CASE OF a patient with a bacterial intracranial aneurysm treated w ith antibiotics and endovascular obliteration is reported. The patient presented with dysphasia and right hemiparesis. A medical workup reve aled endocarditis and associated heart valve dysfunction with no evide nce of congestive heart failure. Computed tomography demonstrated suba rachnoid hemorrhage, and a subsequent cerebral arteriogram showed a di stal left middle cerebral aneurysm, which, as demonstrated by angiogra phy, did not change in size in 2 weeks. An endovascular approach was u sed to obliterate the aneurysm and its parent vessel. Endovascular tec hniques may be used to obliterate certain bacterial intracranial aneur ysms, particularly in patients who harbor distal aneurysms.