Open AccessIschaemic Lumbosacral Plexopathy following an Acute Thrombosed Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Mimicking Stroke: A Case Report
Author(s) -
Yun S
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
hong kong journal of emergency medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.145
H-Index - 12
eISSN - 2309-5407
pISSN - 1024-9079
DOI - 10.1177/102490791602300208
Subject(s) - medicine , paraplegia , radiology , magnetic resonance imaging , stroke (engine) , surgery , aneurysm , thrombosis , abdominal aortic aneurysm , rare disease , disease , spinal cord , mechanical engineering , psychiatry , engineering
Neuropathy is a disease affecting the nerves that can be caused by infectious, ischaemic, or autoimmune disease. Aortic thrombosis may develop neurologic symptoms; however, when unilateral paraplegia is the first main symptom, it could be misinterpreted as a neuropathy. An 82‐year‐old man with a history of intracranial haemorrhage complained of motor weakness in the right lower extremity. Magnetic resonance imaging did not show any evidence of cerebral infarction or haemorrhage. A subsequent computed tomography angiogram confirmed the diagnosis of an acutely thrombosed abdominal aortic aneurysm and revealed thrombosed common, internal and external iliac arteries bilaterally including the left femoral artery. Aortobifemoral bypass surgery with open thrombectomy was performed. The patient recovered successfully despite a tendency for bleeding due to the use of anticoagulants. In conclusion, this is a rare case with the initial predominant presentation being painless unilateral paraplegia mimicking stroke. (Hong Kong j.emerg. med. 2016;23:52‐56)