Fatal Intracerebral Haemorrhage Following Carotid Endarterectomy in a Patient with Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy

Abstract

A 68-year-old man underwent carotid endarterectomy for symptomatic carotid artery stenosis. Immediately after surgery the patient suffered dramatic neurological deterioration, due to massive cerebral bleeding. Pathological examination revealed cerebral amyloid angiopathy. This condition is known to predispose to spontaneous, as well as anticoagulation induced, cerebral haemorrhage. Surgical intervention needing anticoagulation in elderly patients at risk for congophilic angiopathy should be performed with extreme caution.

Key Words:

• Intracerebral haemorrhage
• amyloid angiopathy
• carotid endarterectomy

Additional information

Notes on contributors

S. Willems

Prof. dr. P. Van den Brande

Eenheid Vaatheelkunde Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel Laarbeeklaan 101 B-1090 Brussel E-mail :[email protected]