Bilateral carotid and vertebral artery dissection: a life-threatening cause of postpartum headache

CT and magnetic resonance angiogram was performed and found bilateral carotid and bilateral vertebral artery dissection. Because postpartum headaches are most commonly benign, our case highlights the importance of considering life-threatening causes for headaches in postpartum patients with neurolog...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The American journal of emergency medicine 2015-04, Vol.33 (4), p.600.e1-600.e3
Main Authors: Simon, Erin L., DO, Griffin, Greg, BS, Bosman, Evan
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Analgesics
Carotid Artery, Internal, Dissection - complications
Carotid Artery, Internal, Dissection - diagnosis
Diagnosis, Differential
Diagnostic Imaging
Dissection
Emergency
Emergency medical care
Female
Headache - diagnosis
Headache - etiology
Headaches
Humans
Medical imaging
Medical treatment
Pain
Postpartum Period
Tomography
Veins & arteries
Vertebral Artery Dissection - complications
Vertebral Artery Dissection - diagnosis
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Description
Summary:CT and magnetic resonance angiogram was performed and found bilateral carotid and bilateral vertebral artery dissection. Because postpartum headaches are most commonly benign, our case highlights the importance of considering life-threatening causes for headaches in postpartum patients with neurologic symptoms. Continuous refractory headache in postpartum patients with neurologic symptoms and no history of migraine that is unrelieved by analgesics or change in position should have diagnostic imaging to detect the presence of other causes such as cervical artery dissection.
ISSN:0735-6757
1532-8171
DOI:10.1016/j.ajem.2014.09.017