INFORMATION ON BRAIN ANEURYSM

A brain aneurysm also known as an intracranial or intracerebral aneurysm is a weak or slight spot on a blood vessel in the brain that balloons out and fills with blood. The bulging aneurysm can put pressure on a nerve or surrounding brain tissue. It may also leak or rupture, spilling blood into the surrounding tissue. It is estimated that up to one in 15 people in the United States will develop a brain aneurysm during their lifetime. Some brain aneurysm, chiefly those that are very small, do not bleed or cause other problems. Brain aneurysms are often discovered when they rupture, causing bleeding into the brain or the space closely surrounding the brain called the subarachnoid space, causing a subarachnoid hemorrhage. Subarachnoid hemorrhage from a ruptured brain aneurysm can lead to a hemorrhagic stroke, brain damage and death.

SYNONYMS OF BRAIN ANEURYSM

Synonyms of Brain Aneurysm are:

1. Brain aneurysm.
2. Intracranial aneurysm.
3. Berry aneurysm.
4. Saccular aneurysm.

CAUSES OF BRAIN ANEURYSM

Brain Aneurysm is inherited diseases, such as connective tissue disorders and polycystic kidney disease, and certain circulatory disorders, such as arteriovenous malformations. Brain Aneurysm also causes include trauma or injury to the head, high blood pressure, infection, tumors, atherosclerosis and other diseases of the vascular system, cigarette smoking, and drug abuse. Some investigators have considered that oral contraceptives may increase the risk of developing aneurysms.

SYMPTOMS OF BRAIN ANEURYSM

Symptoms of Brain Aneurysm are:

1. Nausea and vomiting.
2. Stiff neck or neck pain.
3. Blurred vision or double vision.
4. Pain above and behind the eye.
5. Dilated pupils.
6. Sensitivity to light.
7. Loss of sensation.
8. Peripheral vision deficits.
9. Perceptual problems.
10. Sudden changes in behavior.
11. Loss of balance and coordination.
12. Decreased concentration.
13. Short-term memory difficulty.
14. Fatigue.

DIAGNOSIS OF BRAIN ANEURYSM

Test under diagnosis are:

1. Cerebral angiography.
2. Cerebrospinal fluid Test.
3. Electroencephalogram.
4. Magnetic Resonance Imaging.
5. Computerized tomography scans.

TREATMENT OF BRAIN ANEURYSM

Some patients with very small aneurysms may be monitored to detect any growth or onset of symptoms and to ensure destructive treatment of coexisting medical problems and risk factors. Each case is unique, and considerations for treating an unruptured aneurysm include the type, size, and location of the aneurysm; risk of rupture; patient’s age, health, and personal and family medical history; and danger of treatment. Two surgical options are obtainable for treating cerebral aneurysms, both of which carry some risk to the patient. Micro vascular clipping involves cutting off the flow of blood to the aneurysm. Under anesthesia, a section of the skull is removed and the aneurysm is situated. The neurosurgeon uses a microscope to isolate the blood vessel that feeds the aneurysm and places a small, metal, clothespin-like clip on the aneurysm’s neck, halting its blood supply. The clip remains in the patient and prevents the risk of future bleeding. The piece of the skull is then replaced and the scalp is closed. Clipping has been shown to be highly effective, depending on the location, shape, and size of the aneurysm. In general, aneurysms that are totally clipped surgically do not return.