Israeli Woman’s ATV Accident Leads to Life-Saving Brain Aneurysm Discovery

Hana, a 22-year-old Israeli woman, was rushed to Shaare Zedek Medical Center after an ATV rollover accident that left her with a pelvic fracture. During a full-body CT scan to assess her injuries, doctors discovered a large 3-centimeter brain aneurysm near the upper brainstem, unrelated to the accident but posing an immediate life-threatening risk.

The trauma team, led by Dr. Alon Schwartz, convened a multidisciplinary panel including surgeons, vascular specialists, orthopedists, anesthesiologists, and neuro-radiologists to determine the best treatment approach. Due to the aneurysm’s danger of rupture, they prioritized its treatment with two cerebral catheterizations performed by Dr. Yaakov Amsalem and Dr. Simon Komli in the neuro-interventional radiology unit. The pelvic fractures were managed conservatively without surgery to avoid complications from blood-thinning medications required for the aneurysm procedure.

The treatments successfully sealed the aneurysm, described by Dr. Amsalem as a "ticking time bomb" that could have burst at any moment, causing fatal brain hemorrhage. Hana was hospitalized in the trauma unit for about two weeks and was discharged for rehabilitation, accompanied throughout by her husband Yaakov, who sustained minor injuries in the accident.

Hana recounted experiencing severe headaches before the accident but never suspected an aneurysm. She called the accident a miracle that saved her life by revealing the hidden condition. Dr. Amsalem noted a rise in brain aneurysm cases among young people at Shaare Zedek, linking risk factors to smoking, high blood pressure, stress, and lack of exercise. He urged anyone with sudden severe headaches, neck stiffness, or light sensitivity to seek emergency medical care. Dr. Schwartz emphasized that while they never wish for accidents, in Hana’s case it led to a timely diagnosis that likely saved her life.