Autobiographical amnesia following Arteriovenous Malformation, case report

Abstract

Aim: The aim of the current study is the description of an emblematic case of a ruptured left temporal arteriovenous malformation (AVM) causing a large intraparenchymal temporo-parietal left hematoma that resulted in a severe retrograde amnesia. Methods: The patient underwent neurosurgical evacuation of the hematoma and resection of the AVM. He was also sumbitted to several pre- and post-operative neuropsychological evaluations and to rehabilitation for different subdomains of both memory and language. Results: At the end of the rehabilitation course, a new neuropsychological assessment was performer together with a functional cortical mapping Navigated Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (nTMS) to evaluate the focal damage to and the plastic recovery of language cortical areas. Discussion: This case report must be ecologically oriented and based on the relationship between the importance and the nature of the cognitive and type of claims of the specific environment of the individual; that a rehabilitative path cannot ignore a holistic approach that considers the effects of the injury on the emotional and psychosocial states of the person and his family members.