Monkey scare leads to unexpected diagnosis, facilitating treatment of a 32-year-old woman

The patient was experiencing episodes of dizziness and troubling double vision.
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In a striking turn of events, a routine day for a 32-year-old homemaker from Bengaluru turned into a life-saving diagnosis – thanks to a bizarre encounter with a monkey and the swift action of the neurosurgical team at a private hospital.

While engaged in her daily chores, the woman was startled by a monkey that suddenly entered her home. In panic, she screamed and fainted suddenly. What followed was an intense, sudden headache medically known as a thunderclap headache. 

Initially hoping it was just a reaction to the panic, she tried to carry on. But over the next four days, she began experiencing episodes of dizziness and troubling double vision. A visit to a nearby clinic and the prescribed medications only brought temporary but little relief.

Sensing something was seriously wrong, she consulted Shobha N., Consultant – Neurology and Stroke Physician at Manipal Hospital in Malleshwaram. Following a detailed assessment of the symptom history and clinical presentation, Dr. Shobha diagnosed the woman with a brain aneurysm and subarachnoid haemorrhage – a serious neurological emergency. She was then referred to  Sharan Srinivasan, Consultant – Neurosurgeon at the same hospital for apt treatment.

A brain aneurysm is a serious condition caused due to a bulge or ballooning of a blood vessel in the brain. This patient had a saccular aneurysm located at the bifurcation of the left middle cerebral artery (MCA) – a vulnerable spot where major blood vessels in the brain branch out. She had also suffered a subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), a serious and potentially fatal condition that occurs when an aneurysm leaks or ruptures.

“Brain aneurysms often go unnoticed until they rupture. They are like hidden time bombs. In this case, the sudden spike in blood pressure caused by panic could have triggered a bleed,” explained Dr. Srinivasan.

The patient’s aneurysm required urgent neurovascular intervention and she underwent a minimally invasive endovascular coiling procedure. This procedure  involves using a thin catheter inserted through the groin (femoral artery) and passing it to the brain’s blood vessels. Once the catheter reaches the site of the aneurysm, platinum coils are carefully deployed inside the bulge. These coils effectively prevent rupture. To ensure the coils remain in place and the blood vessel maintains its integrity, a stent is placed across the neck of the aneurysm, the doctor explained.

“It’s a complex and delicate procedure, but is minimally invasive. Hence, the procedure does not involve any large incisions, hence, guarantees faster recovery, and lower risk of complications. The aneurysm is sealed from the inside, much like patching a weak spot in a pipe without dismantling the whole structure,” he said.

Pointing out that the procedure was successful and the patient is doing well, the doctor added: “This case of a monkey’s surprise visit leading to an unexpected diagnosis and apt treatment, is a powerful reminder that seemingly trivial or unusual incidents like a sudden scare can unmask serious health conditions.”