Hard work and determination meant Michelle got the use of her eye back after a life-changing aneurysm ruptured
Michele Hill had just celebrated her birthday in May last year, when things took a turn for the worse.
After loss of feeling in her leg, doctors thought she had had a stroke, but after various tests, the cause was unclear. Whilst in hospital undergoing investigations, her right eye began to bulge, and she could hear her heartbeat in her head.
It was then radiologists discovered a large carotid aneurysm behind her right eye, which had ruptured. After this discovery, Michele was rushed to The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust for specialist treatment.
The 63-year-old from Neston said: “I was at a friend's house and had a massive headache. I decided to have a nap and ended up sleeping for the best part of two days. I knew there was something going on, so we went back to Arrowe Park to let them investigate. It was there that they found the bulging blood vessel.”
When Michele got to The Walton Centre, she was diagnosed with a direct caroticocavernous fistula, a rare abnormal connection between the carotid artery and the cavernous sinus, which is a network of veins behind the eyes. A secondary aneurysm was discovered behind her right eye. Michele needed urgent specialist surgical intervention to save her sight from rapidly deteriorating.
Due to the complex nature of her condition, Michele needed a two-stage minimally invasive procedure. Initially, Michele had the fistula coiled, a procedure where soft metal is delivered into the cavernous sinus through a small catheter to disconnect the abnormal vascular connection. Later Michele had a flow diverting stent inserted across the carotid aneurysm to reduce the risk of it bursting again.
Michele said: “After the first operation, I realised that my right eye just wouldn't move or open without me propping the lid up with my finger. In those early days, they thought that I might not be able to recover the use of my eye, which was devasting to hear. The damage had been that severe, I felt lucky that it wasn't worse.
“When I got home, I decided to work hard to get my eye working again. At first I had triple vision, then gradually that began to turn to double, then single vision. Then slowly but surely I was getting the use of my eyelid back again.”
When Michele attended The Walton Centre to have the stent for the carotid aneurysm behind her eye, clinicians were surprised by the progress she had made with her recovery.
Michele continued: “They kept asking me how I'd got the use of my eye back, but I just told them I was determined to not lose my vision. I followed the exercise advice diligently, and also went further by watching TV through it to give it more of a workout.”
Consultant Interventional Neuroradiologist Dr Mohammad Altibi said: “Caroticocavernous fistula are extremely rare and can cause a huge amount of damage to the eye, which can be life-changing. Recovery is individual and can vary, but often in these circumstances loss of vision can be permanent. In rare cases the sight can return during rehabilitation.”
Michele recovered well from the stent operation. Scans afterwards showed the aneurysm had shrunk by approximately 85%. Shortly afterwards Michele was allowed to go home to recover further. In a subsequent follow-up, the carotid aneurysm was found to be no longer filling.
Michele said: “I'm extremely grateful for the investigative work at Arrowe Park, which then led me to having critical surgery at The Walton Centre. Throughout my journey with the NHS, there have been some excellent people who have made me better, and helped me to recover.
“I feel very lucky that I was able to regain the sight in my right eye, as I know others aren't as fortunate.”
Michele will continue to be looked after and monitored by The Walton Centre.
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Notes to editors
Further information, or to arrange an interview, please contact the Communications Team at The Walton Centre on 0151 556 3397 or wcft.communications@nhs.net
The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust is the only hospital trust in the UK specialising in neurology, neurosurgery and pain services. Although the majority of patients come from Merseyside, Cheshire, North Wales, Lancashire and the Isle of Man, for some specialist treatments of complex disorders we see patients from all parts of the country, referred by their GPs or other neurologists, neurosurgeons and pain clinicians.
The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust was rated as 'Outstanding' by the Care Quality Commission. The independent regulator of all health and social care services in England published its rating on Friday 21 October 2016, following announced and unannounced inspection visits to the Trust in April 2016.
For more information please visit: www.thewaltoncentre.nhs.uk or follow the Trust on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram.
The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust, Lower Lane, Fazakerley, Liverpool L9 7LJ
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