Brain Aneurysm/Cerebral Aneurysm
Definition
A brain or cerebral aneurysm is a cerebrovascular disorder in which the wall of an artery in the brain becomes weak and balloons outward. The ballooned part of the artery is the aneurysm. An aneurysm has thin walls and can leak or rupture easily. The rupturing of an aneurysm is called a subarachnoid hemorrhage and causes blood to leak into the fluid-filled space around the brain. This bleeding is very dangerous and can cause brain damage, disability, or death. Aneurysms can come in many sizes and can rupture at any time.
Causes
There are many possible causes for a brain aneurysm. The following is a list of some of the more common causes:
- congenital defect (a condition you are born with)
- hypertension
- atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries)
- brain trauma
- infection
- cocaine use
- alcohol use
Symptoms
A smaller aneurysm will not show any symptoms. However, the following are symptoms for larger aneurysms or aneurysm rupturing:
- severe sudden headache
- nausea and vomiting
- loss of consciousness
- stiff neck
- fever
- sensitivity to light
Diagnosis
In order to properly diagnose a brain aneurysm there are a few tests that a doctor will perform. A CT scan of the head is done to look for blood in the brain. If the CT scan does not show a problem then a lumbar puncture and angiogram will be performed. This is often referred to as a spinal tap. The lumbar puncture is a test done to determine if there is blood in the cerebrospinal fluid. If blood is found in the cerebrospinal fluid, this means a subarachnoid hemorrhage has occurred.
An angiogram is done to show the exact location of the aneurysm. Dye will be injected through a catheter placed in a blood vessel in the neck. This dye will show up on x-rays and will show if there is any bleeding. After all of the proper diagnostic tests are done, the doctor will then be able to choose the best treatment plan for the patient.
Treatment
There are two possible treatments a person with an aneurysm may receive. People with a ruptured brain aneurysm need medical attention right away and the clinical team will move quickly. The following are the two procedures a person with an aneurysm may receive:
Clip Ligation
During this surgery, a metal clip is placed at the base of the aneurysm to control the bleeding and to decrease the risk of more bleeding. If the patient continues to bleed, more brain damage may occur.
Endovascular Embolization
This procedure is used to block the blood vessel supplying blood to the area of the brain with the aneurysm. Metal coils are placed in the aneurysm through a catheter that is inserted in the groin area. This surgery will prevent more bleeding.
The recovery process for a patient with an aneurysm is dependent on several factors. The size and location of the aneurysm plays a major part in the determining how well a patient will recover from this condition. The type of aneurysm and the medical history of the patient will also play a role in the recovery process. Some patients will need rehabilitation after their stay at the hospital and others may not. The health care team will discuss each patient’s case to determine the post-surgery plan in order to provide a recovery that works best for each particular patient.
Prevention
There is no specific way to completely prevent a brain aneurysm. There are, however, ways for people to lessen their chances of suffering from one. It is important to stay healthy by exercising and eating a balanced diet. Smoking, drinking alcohol, and drug use can increase your risks, so talk to your doctor about plans for quitting. Watch for the symptoms listed above and go to the emergency room immediately if you are experiencing any of the symptoms.