[Ruptured spleen after subarachnoid haemorrhage]. / Een miltruptuur na een subarachnoïdale bloeding.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Subarachnoid hemorrhage is a severe neurological condition which can cause a broad range of symptoms. Often, these symptoms are the direct consequence of the hemorrhage. CASE DESCRIPTION A 58-year-old female was admitted to the emergency department with extreme headache and a sudden and brief loss of consciousness. She was diagnosed with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage and underwent endovascular treatment. Seven days after admission she developed hypotension, bilateral fixed and dilated pupils and a second sudden and brief loss of consciousness. A CT scan of the brain was unchanged compared to the initial CT scan. An external ventricular drain was placed and the patient was admitted to the ICU where she was diagnosed with hemorrhagic shock due to a ruptured spleen. CONCLUSION: Bilateral fixed and dilated pupils can in rare cases be caused by hemorrhagic shock due to strong sympathetic activity or parasympathetic inactivity. When a patient presents with loss of consciousness and/or pupil deviation, extracranial diagnoses should be considered after intracranial causes have been excluded.