Elderly woman in Sharjah saved from fatal brain haemorrhage within hours

A normal day in the life of a 68-year-old woman turned into a battle for survival when she suddenly experienced the most severe headache of her life.

It was not just a passing headache but also an early warning sign of a life-threatening cerebral aneurysm, causing severe bleeding around the brain known as a subarachnoid haemorrhage, a medical emergency that can lead to death if not treated immediately.

Thanks to the team of doctors at NMC Royal Hospital Sharjah, led by Dr. Vivek Karan, Consultant Neurologist, the patient was able to receive life-saving treatment without the need for open brain surgery.

The patient was urgently transferred to NMC Royal Hospital Sharjah after falling at home due to sudden, severe headache. Urgent tests revealed a subarachnoid haemorrhage caused by a rupture of the left middle cerebral artery, one of the main arteries in the brain.

Although her medical condition was complicated by her pre-existing high blood pressure and diabetes and she had allergy to certain antibiotics, she arrived at the hospital fully conscious, which allowed doctors a limited time to save her life.

Instead of resorting to traditional surgery, which may be more risky for elderly patients, the medical team decided to adopt the cerebral catheterization technique of metallic coil immersion.

Through a small incision in the leg, a tiny catheter was inserted into the arteries up to the brain, where tiny platinum coils were placed inside the aneurysm to close it and stop the bleeding, without having to open the skull.

Subsequent tests showed that the aneurysm had closed completely and the patient awoke later with no signs of a stroke or neurological damage.

“We thought we would lose her that day. Seeing her regain consciousness and smile again was a miracle. We are grateful to Dr. Vivek and the medical team at NMC Royal Hospital Sharjah for giving us more time with her,” the patient's daughter said.

The patient herself, who returned home a few days later, commented, “I never imagined I would go through this at my age. I feel like I have been given a second chance at life.”

Meanwhile, Dr. Karan said: “This example demonstrates that timing and teamwork can save lives. The difference in saving her life was not only advanced technology, but the combined expertise of the emergency physicians, radiologists, ICU staff, and nurses as well. Everyone worked as a team to provide the right care at the right time.”

The patient left the hospital a few days later in good condition, without any neurological complications, and returned to her normal life with her family.

This story is not just an individual success; it is a powerful reminder of the importance of rapid intervention in such cases and that sudden, severe headaches should never be ignored.

This achievement also underscores NMC Royal Hospital Sharjah’s commitment to providing the latest advanced neurological care methods in the UAE, sending a message of hope that modern medicine can save lives even in the most critical situations.