Subarachnoid hemorrhage due to vertebral artery dissection after lung resection

A 52-year-old man with massive hemoptysis underwent a left upper lobectomy. He suddenly reported a severe headache and lost consciousness on postoperative day 4. Computed tomography of the brain demonstrated a subarachnoid hemorrhage due to right vertebral artery dissection. Fortunately, he recovered well with intensive neurosurgical treatment. Vertebral artery dissection sometimes develops following systemic vascular disease, infection, and even minor neck trauma such as hyperextension or torsion of the neck. We should be aware that vertebral artery dissection may cause postoperative stroke and subarachnoid hemorrhage.