Annales françaises d'anesthèsie et de rèanimation
-
Ann Fr Anesth Reanim · Apr 2013
[Bilateral carotid artery dissection in a severe preeclamptic setting: an unusual cause of postpartum headache].
A 30-year-old woman with severe preeclampsia presented at 27 weeks of amenorrhea with left headache, neck pain, blurred vision and numbness of left hemiface that resolved spontaneously within 2 hours. A week later, hypertension remained poorly controlled despite combination of nicardipine and labetalol intravenous therapy; an urgent caesarean section was eventually performed due to onset of HELLP syndrome. At day 5 postpartum, the patient had a Horner syndrome with right ipsilateral disabling tinnitus. ⋯ Symptoms resolved quickly and the patient was discharged at day 7 postpartum. MR-angiography performed 4 months later showed a full resolution of the bilateral carotid dissection. Anticoagulant therapy was therefore discontinued.