Not always symptomatic, if it breaks it can cause serious consequences. Surgery is one way to go, but it’s not the only one.
A blood vessel inside the brain, usually an artery, dilates: this is how a brain aneurysm forms. This condition does not always manifest itself with obvious symptoms, but identifying it in time is crucial to prevent any serious damage.
Signs to watch out for
An aneurysm forms because the wall of a blood vessel is too weak and cannot withstand the pressure of the blood passing through it. When the artery gives way, it causes the bulge called an aneurysm.
The aneurysm does not always cause symptoms that are easy to detect, unless it is quite large. In this case, in fact, it could press against nerves and other areas of the brain, giving disorders such as:
- visual problems, such as doubled vision or changes in the visual field
- painful sensation on or around the eyes
- tingling or loss of sensation on one side of the face
- difficulty speaking
- headache
- loss of balance
- difficulty concentrating or short-term memory problems.
These signs are a wake-up call that should not be ignored. Consult your doctor immediately and follow his instructions.
How is it diagnosed?
The certain diagnosis of aneurysm is obtained thanks to a series of tests, sometimes carried out for other reasons, which can lead to the discovery of a vascular bulge, making it visible to the doctor.
The techniques used are:
- CT scan of the brain, which can make it “suspect” the presence. Confirmation can be obtained with an angioTAC, or a CT scan performed with the injection of a contrast agent, a substance that allows to visualize the aneurysm
- magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), which occasionally allows to highlight the appearance of aneurysm. Also in this case, to obtain the certainty of the diagnosis, angioMRI is fundamental, i.e. an MRI with the injection of a contrast medium
- cerebral angiography, which represents the litmus test for a certain diagnosis because it allows to visualize the entire cerebral blood flow. It is carried out by introducing a catheter through the femoral artery, until it reaches the blood vessels inside the head. It is performed under local anesthesia.
What to do after diagnosis?
The aneurysm, by itself, does not pose an immediate danger to health. The real problem is if the bulge wall ruptures, allowing blood to invade brain tissue. In this case there is a real hemorrhage, which can generate very serious damage, depending on the extension and duration.
Once the aneurysm has been identified, there can be three ways to choose from:
- keep it under close periodic observation
- intervene with drugs that reduce blood pressure
- schedule surgery.
Isolate the aneurysm with a clip
When the neurosurgeon decides to proceed with surgery, there are two options:
- microsurgery
- endovascular treatment.
With the microsurgical approach, the vascular swelling is isolated through the positioning of one or more “clips” (small clothespins) at the level of the malformation. This technique is performed with the help of the latest generation of microsurgical instruments, indicated for extremely precise treatments.
Endovascular treatment, on the other hand, involves a normal angiography: the affected cerebral vessel is reached through the femoral artery and the aneurysm is literally filled with small titanium filaments or by placing stents. In this way the malformation is effectively excluded from the entire cerebral circle, thus eliminating the problem.
Know the risk
Some people are more at risk than others of developing an aneurysm. Because? It often depends on bad habits, but according to some studies also on DNA.
In fact, the factors that increase the likelihood of experiencing this cardiovascular problem are:
- high blood pressure
- cigarette smoke
- genetic predisposition, or if someone else in the family has suffered from aneurysms in the past.
Joycelyn Elders is the author and creator of EmpowerEssence, a health and wellness blog. Elders is a respected public health advocate and pediatrician dedicated to promoting general health and well-being.
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