Kauvery Kathaigal – 2
Right-sided cerebral AVM presenting with Acute Neurological Deficit during pregnancy
Case at a Glance
A young pregnant mother presented with acute neurological deficits, including right-sided headache and left-sided hemiparesis, leading to the discovery of a high-risk vascular malformation.
Patient Story
The patient, already a mother to a young daughter and currently pregnant, experienced a sudden onset of a severe right-sided headache. This was rapidly followed by left-sided facial palsy and weakness in her left arm and leg (hemiparesis). In pregnancy, the neurological symptoms presented an urgent risk to both mother and unborn child.
The diagnostic journey & Discussion
Clinical evaluation and urgent imaging identified a Right-sided Arteriovenous (AV) Malformation. This condition involved an abnormal tangle of blood vessels connecting arteries and veins, which had become symptomatic. She underwent curative craniotomy surgery with no neurological deficits. As hair regrew gracefully over the surgical site, she can confidently mask the scar with an elegant hairstyle.
She needs competent, careful, considerate and comprehensive hand – holding for the rest of her life, to give her the courage to move forward
