Finding into death of Mr B

57y · Male·Subarachnoid Haemorrhage Secondary to Ruptured Pericallosal Aneurysm

A 57-year-old man on remand at Port Phillip Prison collapsed on 4 August 2021 with a subarachnoid haemorrhage from a ruptured pericallosal aneurysm. He was transferred to St Vincent's Hospital, underwent emergency neurosurgery, but did not regain consciousness and died on 7 August 2021. The coroner's Health and Medical Investigations Team found that without prior warning headaches (sentinel headaches), the event could not have been predicted or prevented. The death was from natural causes. Key lesson: sudden rupture of cerebral aneurysms are unpredictable catastrophic events without prior warning signs. Once occurred, rapid emergency neurosurgery and ICU care was appropriately provided, but prognosis with irreversible brain injury remains grave.