Related articles: Cerebral aneurysm
Definition
A brain aneurysm is a pathological dilation of a blood vessel, usually an artery, present in the brain. This swelling of the vase is created by the bulging of the wall of the same; where it is weakest, the wall thins and dilates. This event is favored by hypertension problems and congenital arterial wall defects.
A cerebral aneurysm appears as a sort of sac, in communication with the blood vessel through a small hole, called a collar, through which the blood that fills it passes. If this flexion breaks, it can cause massive blood loss inside the brain.
Cerebral aneurysms can arise due to head trauma, atherosclerosis and some connective tissue diseases. In many other cases, however, their origin remains unknown.
Most common symptoms and signs *
- Aphasia
- Agnosia
- anisocoria
- Apraxia
- dizziness
- cataplexy
- Conati
- Confabulation
- Seizures
- Language difficulties
- Dysarthria
- Pain associated with chewing
- Brain edema
- hemianopia
- hemiparesis
- Hemiplegia
- Temperature
- Hydrocephalus
- Intracranial hypertension
- Hypoaesthesia
- Headache
- meningism
- Nausea
- Paresthesia
- Loss of coordination of movements
- Loss of balance
- presyncope
- Narrowing of the visual field
- Reduced vision
- Drowsiness
- Confusional state
- Fainting
- Double vision
- He retched
Further indications
Often, cerebral aneurysms are asymptomatic or cause very vague symptoms. In many cases, in fact, the disorder is occasionally recognized during medical examinations performed for other reasons.
The rupture of a brain aneurysm can become complicated in a hemorrhage, which, if not recognized and treated promptly, can cause serious neurological deficits, which can become irreversible or lethal.
When the aneurysm is broken, the onset of a sudden and stabbing headache is typical, reaching maximum intensity in a few seconds. Symptoms such as blurred vision, diplopia, nausea, vomiting, confusion, facial paralysis, stiffening of the neck muscles, sensory impairment, motor deficit, loss of consciousness and general malaise may follow. Furthermore, seizures, secondary vasoconstriction (with cerebral ischemia), meningism and hydrocephalus are possible.
A brain aneurysm can be diagnosed with a CT scan or an MRI scan. Additional information is provided by cerebral angiography.
The treatment involves a surgical intervention, established based on the characteristics and location of the aneurysm. Possible therapeutic approaches include clipping (a titanium microclip is placed to close the aneurysm collar, excluding it from the bloodstream) and endovascular embolization (thin metal filaments are introduced inside the aneurysm that induce the formation of a thrombus that closes the collar of the bag).
