Brief overview
- Treatment: Sometimes no treatment, but observation of the aneurysm, possibly two treatment procedures “clipping” or “coiling”, the choice of treatment procedure depends on the individual case
- Symptoms: Sometimes no symptoms, possibly interference with certain cranial nerves, if the aneurysm ruptures (“bursts”), devastating headaches, nausea, vomiting, neck stiffness, unconsciousness
- Course of the disease and prognosis: Depends on the individual case, good in some cases, danger to life in the event of rupture, consequential damage is possible
- Causes and risk factors: Sometimes hereditary, main risk factor is high blood pressure and all factors that increase blood pressure such as smoking, rarely also hereditary diseases that affect the connective tissue such as Marfan syndrome, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome
- Examination and diagnosis: If necessary, suspected symptoms, imaging procedures such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), magnetic resonance angiography (MRA), computer tomography (CT)
- Prevention:Avoid risk factors such as high blood pressure, smoking, excessive alcohol consumption; generally healthy lifestyle recommended
What is an aneurysm in the brain?
An aneurysm in the brain is a pathological widening of a blood vessel in the head. Doctors also speak of an intracranial or cerebral aneurysm.
It is estimated that around three percent of adults have an aneurysm. Sometimes the bulging of the vessel is congenital, in other cases it only develops in the course of life. Aneurysms occur more frequently in some families.
How can an aneurysm be treated?
There are two main procedures that can be used to treat an aneurysm in the brain. One option is an operation in which the surgeon opens the skull. He then closes the aneurysm from the outside using a clip (so-called clipping).
In the other procedure, the doctor pushes a catheter through an artery in the leg to the affected area in the brain. He repairs the aneurysm by inserting a so-called coil (coiling). This is a platinum coil that fills the aneurysm from the inside.
However, doctors do not always treat every aneurysm using this procedure. Whether the procedure makes sense and which procedure is used depends on the individual case. Surgeons also carefully weigh up whether the benefits of the procedure outweigh the associated risks.
If there is only a low risk of the aneurysm in the head bursting and it does not cause any other problems, doctors recommend that the bulging vessel is initially observed.
What are the symptoms of an aneurysm in the brain?
One symptom of the aneurysm is a disruption of the so-called cranial nerves. These are nerves that, in contrast to the peripheral nerves, emerge directly from the brain. The cranial nerve responsible for eye movements (oculomotor nerve) is more frequently affected. This results in movement disorders of the eyes, eye muscle paralysis or double vision.
If the vessel wall of an aneurysm in the brain ruptures (rupture), severe symptoms occur. The most common symptom is a subarachnoid hemorrhage, or SAB for short. The bleeding occurs in the space between the brain and the meninges, more precisely the arachnoid membrane.
Due to the firm skull cap, the blood does not escape and quickly exerts increased pressure on the brain. This pressure on the brain tissue then causes the symptoms.
Symptoms of increased intracranial pressure:
- Sudden onset of severe headache
- Nausea
- vomiting
- Neck stiffness
- drowsiness
- Drowsiness
- Unconsciousness or coma
Aneurysm in the head: what are the chances of recovery?
There are aneurysms that only have a low probability of bursting one day. Such an aneurysm in the brain does not necessarily limit life expectancy. Doctors then observe at regular intervals to see if the vascular aneurysm changes.
There is no general answer to the question of life expectancy after surgery for an aneurysm in the brain. Depending on the size and location of the widened vessel, an operation can be life-saving in some cases. However, the operation carries risks. In some cases, there is a risk of neurological damage as a result of surgery.
For this reason, doctors weigh up very carefully which strategy is most likely to benefit those affected by an aneurysm in the head.
Aneurysm in the brain – causes
The cause of an aneurysm in the brain can often not be determined precisely. Heredity obviously plays a role, as it is not uncommon for the vascular protrusions to occur more frequently within a family. Another important risk factor for a brain aneurysm is high blood pressure.
With every heartbeat, the blood exerts high pressure on the vessel walls from the inside. This sometimes creates weak points in the vessel wall, which eventually give way – an aneurysm develops.
Smoking indirectly increases the risk of aneurysm: it promotes arteriosclerosis and increases blood pressure. Rare causes that are associated with an increased risk of an aneurysm in the brain are certain hereditary diseases, for example Marfan syndrome or Ehlers-Danlos syndrome.
MRI, CT & Co.: How does the doctor detect an aneurysm in the head?
Doctors often discover an aneurysm in the brain by chance, as those affected often don’t feel the bulging vessel themselves.
If the aneurysm presses on certain structures in the brain, such as a cranial nerve, corresponding neurological disorders indicate the problem in the head.
In the case of a burst aneurysm, the symptoms often lead to the suspicion of an acute neurological disorder. An aneurysm in the brain and a cerebral hemorrhage in the case of a ruptured brain aneurysm can be easily visualized using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), magnetic resonance arteriography (MRA) or computer tomography (CT).
How can an aneurysm in the brain be prevented?
An aneurysm in the brain cannot be prevented in principle. This is because there is no preventative measure against a predisposition or a congenital aneurysm.
If you have high blood pressure, have it treated and checked regularly by a doctor. If possible, avoid a lifestyle that raises your blood pressure and has a negative effect on the health of your blood vessels.
Preventing risk factors for an aneurysm in the head include, for example:
- Not smoking
- Eating a healthy diet, with little animal fat, instead vegetable oils, lots of fresh fruit and vegetables
- Being physically active on a regular basis
- Drinking little alcohol
