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When the brain aneurysm is small - most often it does not give any signals and this stage is detected accidentally. Only when it breaks - there is a characteristic severe headache, vomiting, nausea, photophobia, sometimes loss of consciousness. A rupture of a brain aneurysm is always dangerous to he alth and life.

The wall of each artery consists of several layers. If, for any reason, one of its layers weakens, it may - under the influence of blood pressure - expand the lumen of the artery and the appearance of a bag-like bulge. This is howbrain aneurysmis formed, which can rupture at any moment.Brain aneurysmsrupture in 10 out of 100,000 people per year. And when medical aid does not come on time - it is always dangerous to he alth and life.

Brain aneurysms: types

  • saccular aneurysm- the most common (80% of all brain aneurysms), usually located in the vessels of the arterial circle of the brain, it has a spherical or slightly elongated shape, it can be from a few millimeters up to several centimeters
  • fusiform aneurysm- usually located on the basilar artery and the internal carotid artery and the adjacent branches of the cerebral arteries, it has an irregular, s-shaped shape - looks like a branched and highly developed blood vessel in all directions
  • miliary aneurysm (micro aneurysm)- usually located on the branches of cerebral arteries in the vicinity of the shell, thalamus, bridge, cerebellum and mantle
  • dissecting aneurysm- occurs as a result of damage to the inner layer of a blood vessel, rarely found in the brain

Is it possible to protect against an aneurysm?

Important

The blood to the brain is supplied by arteries connected in the so-called Willis arterial circle. Most brain aneurysms form in the front of the brain, most often at the bifurcation of the arteries.

Brain aneurysms: risk factors

Hypertensionand hereditary burdens are the most common risk factors for the development of brain aneurysms. Smoking is also included in the censorship. Age is also conducive to the formation of aneurysms - scientists associate it with atherosclerotic changes in people over 45 years of age and gender - statistics indicate that aneurysms are more common in women.They also appear in children and people with connective tissue disorders that lead to inflammation of the arteries, i.e. the direct cause of aneurysm formation. Connective tissue disorders may occur in diseases such as renal cystic disease, Marfan-Ehlers-Danlos syndrome or neurofibromatosis type 1.

Brain aneurysm: symptoms

Often, the detection of a brain aneurysm is completely accidental and occurs during other tests. Why is this happening? Very often, the aneurysm does not cause any symptoms. It is only when it compresses a nerve as it grows - it can cause e.g. ptosis, enlargement of one pupil, visual disturbances (double vision, deterioration of visual acuity). When the aneurysm ruptures, it shows clear symptoms. The following appears then:

  • very strong headache, felt most strongly in the occiput and neck
  • vomiting
  • nausea
  • photophobia
  • sometimes loss of consciousness
  • neck stiffness.

A strong hemorrhage can cause focal damage to the central nervous system, e.g. with paresis of the limbs.

An aneurysm that forms in the back of the brain is more likely to rupture and is a greater threat to he alth and life than an aneurysm that forms in the front of it.

These symptoms should under no circumstances be ignored - even if they subside after some time, which is the case when the bleeding from the ruptured aneurysm is not profuse. Any time an aneurysm rupture can be a direct threat to life.

Brain aneurysm: diagnosis

Computed tomography of the head is the test that confirms a hemorrhage resulting from rupture of a brain aneurysm. If it is impossible, the doctor must perform a lumbar puncture - the presence of blood in the cerebrospinal fluid confirms the presence of a hemorrhage.

In the diagnosis of a brain aneurysm, four-vessel angiography of the brain is performed (X-ray X-ray after contrast administration to the intracranial arteries). Increasingly, non-invasive examinations are also used: angiography with computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging.

Brain aneurysm surgery

Fragment of the series "Operating Room" in which the neurosurgeon, Dr. Maciej Bujko, performs the operation of the brain aneurysm. The surgical procedure consists in removing the aneurysm and placing a titanium clip in its place.

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Category:

Neurology