Vein of Galen aneurysm: a rare cause of heart failure in the neonate

Abstract

Vein of Galen aneurysm (VGA) is a rare congenital disease, representing 1% of all neonatal intracranial vascular malformations. We report the case of a term male newborn presenting with antenatal diagnosis of hydrocephalus and cardiomegaly. He was admitted at birth for respiratory and neurological distress. On 3rd day, cardiac failure as a complication of VGA was highly suspected and confirmed by Cerebral CT scan. The neuro surgeons concluded to a giant aneurysm with a very poor prognosis. The newborn died at day 7.