Abstract
Although rare, intracranial hemorrhage due to rupture of cerebral vascular malformations
or intracranial aneurysms during pregnancy is a potentially devastating and life-threatening
disorder, posing a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge to a multidisciplinary team
of neurosurgeons, neurologists, obstetricians, and anesthesiologists. Despite the
significant risk of morbidity and mortality affecting both the mother and the unborn
child, knowledge of the natural history, epidemiology, and appropriate management
of cerebral vascular malformations and intracranial aneurysms in pregnant women is
limited. Although emergent neurosurgical concerns usually outweigh obstetric considerations,
and treatment of these disorders is generally similar in pregnant and nonpregnant
women, any necessary and feasible modifications to protect the unborn child should
be made. This article reviews the management of ruptured intracranial aneurysms and
cerebral vascular malformations, including arteriovenous malformations, cavernous
malformations, and moyamoya disease, in women during pregnancy, partus, and puerperium.
Keywords
arteriovenous malformation - moyamoya disease - aneurysm - cavernous malformation
- pregnancy
