An aneurysm in the brain (intracranial or cerebral aneurysm) is the pathological dilation of a cerebral vasculature. When it breaks, it often causes serious brain damage or even the death of those affected. If discovered early, you may be able to operate it. Read all about the aneurysm in the brain!
Aneurysm in the brain – causes
The cause of an aneurysm in the brain often can not be determined accurately. Disposition can obviously play a role, because not infrequently occur the Gefäßaussackacks within a family frequently. Another important factor that can cause a brain aneurysm is hypertension. With each heartbeat, the blood exerts a high pressure on the vessel walls from within. This can cause weakness in the vessel wall, which eventually give way – it develops an aneurysm.
Vascular calcification (arteriosclerosis) is also an important risk factor for an aneurysm. Lime deposits (plaques) on the vessel walls make them lose their elasticity. The vessels are less able to cushion the pressure wave produced by each heartbeat. Smoking indirectly increases the risk of aneurysm: It promotes arteriosclerosis and causes blood pressure to rise. Rare causes associated with an increased risk of aneurysm in the brain are certain hereditary diseases, such as Marfan syndrome or Ehlers-Danlos syndrome.
Aneurysm in the head – symptoms
An aneurysm in the brain must first cause no discomfort. Often physicians discover the brain aneurysm by chance, for example, if they make a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or a computed tomography (CT) of the head for another reason. However, depending on the size and location of the aneurysm in the brain, you may also experience discomfort. For example, a disorder of one of the so-called cerebral nerves (nerves that emerge directly from the brain in contrast to the peripheral nerves) often occurs. Above all, the cerebral nerve, which is responsible for eye movements (oculomotor nerve), can be affected by a brain aneurysm be affected. As a result, it comes to movement disorders of the eyes, eye muscle paralysis or double vision.
If the vascular wall (rupture) tears when an aneurysm in the brain occurs, massive symptoms appear. Most commonly, so-called subarachnoid hemorrhage, short SAB. The hemorrhage occurs in the space between the brain and the meninges, more specifically the spider skin (arachnoid). Due to the solid skullcap, the blood can not escape and quickly exerts increased pressure on the brain.
The patient experiences symptoms of increased intracranial pressure:
- Sudden onset, strongest headache
- nausea
- Vomit
- stiff neck
- dizziness
- drowsiness
- Unconsciousness or coma
Brain aneurysm: diagnosis
If the aneurysm in the head does not cause any discomfort, the doctor usually only detects it by accident. In case of a ruptured aneurysm, the symptoms often lead to the suspicion of a neurological disease. An aneurysm in the brain and cerebral hemorrhage in a ruptured brain aneurysm can be well visualized by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomography (CT).
Aneurysm in the brain: therapy
There are two important methods by which an aneurysm in the brain can be treated. One possibility is an operation in which the surgeon opens the skull. Then he closes the aneurysm from the outside using a clip (so-called clipping).
In the other method, the doctor visits the affected area in the brain via a blood vessel. He fixes the aneurysm by using a so-called coil (Coiling). It is a platinum spiral that fills the aneurysm from the inside.
Aneurysm in the head: prognosis
The forecast at one Aneurysm in the brain depends on various factors. If the brain aneurysm is discovered and treated by chance, the chances of recovery are good in many cases. On the other hand, if a brain hemorrhage occurs because the aneurysm is torn, the prognosis depends mainly on the extent of the bleeding, and how fast it is treated.