Brain aneurysm: causes, symptoms and prognosis

The Central Nervous System, in which the brain is included, is an indispensable component of our anatomy.

Without it we could not survive, but neither could we think, feel, make decisions or be aware of what is happening to us; all the characteristics that make us human exist because we have a brain that works as it should.

However, there are many diseases that can jeopardize its functioning and, therefore, our survival.Brain aneurysm is one of them.

What is a cerebral aneurysm?

A brain aneurysm is a cerebrovascular disease in which part of a blood vessel in the brain becomes enlarged, which swells over time.

This bulging of this segment of the blood vessel is due to a weakening of the vessel wall, which which makes the blood pressure tense it even more, thus increasing the risk of the vessel becoming break and a part of the brain I was drenched in blood.

Prognosis: what happens when the aneurysm ruptures?

The rupture of a cerebral aneurysm is almost always a very serious event for the health of the person, since on the one hand the leakage of blood affects the functioning of parts of the brain causing them to not be able to work well and killing nerve cells, and on the other hand it produces a blood supply deficit in others, causing them to go dying.

Beyond these generalities, the prognosis for a ruptured brain aneurysm is highly variable, basically depending on its size, the affected brain area, the general state of health of the person and the time that has passed between the rupture of the vessel and the beginning of medical care. In general, an average of 40% of people do not survive the 24 hours after the rupture of the cerebral aneurysm, and it is frequent that in the cases of recovery some type of sequelae remains.

That is why urgent medical attention is necessary before the appearance of the first symptoms.

Types of brain aneurysms

Aneurysms that affect the brain can be classified according to several criteria. Here are some of them.

Types of aneurysms by size

• Very small: 3 mm. or less
• Little ones: more than 3 mm. and less than 11 mm.
• Large: from 11 to 25 mm.
• Giants: more than 25 mm.

Types of aneurysms according to their shape

• Saccular aneurysms: bulges of a domed shape on the wall of the vessel.
• Dissecting aneurysms: The inner layer of the vessel wall breaks creating a bifurcation that separates the normal path of the vessel and another that runs parallel to it on the other side of the inner wall.
• Spindle aneurysms: in this type of aneurysm there is no specific and very well defined area in which the wall of the vessel inflates, rather, the wall of the vessel expands in all directions along a relatively long segment of the vessel.

Causes and risk factors

Brain aneurysms can be the product of genetic root alterations or acquired diseases. Risk factors related to unhealthy lifestyle habits are alcoholism, excessive intake of food with high levels of fats and sugars, tobacco abuse, cocaine use, and the use of certain contraceptives and anticoagulants.

Hypertension, obesity and, especially, atherosclerosis, are also risk factors for the possible occurrence of brain aneurysms, which are associated with weakening of the vessel walls blood.

Symptoms of a brain aneurysm

When small, brain aneurysms tend not to produce symptoms until they rupture, although larger ones can altering certain mental and behavioral functions before this occurs, by putting pressure on adjacent areas as they go expanding.

1. Symptoms before the break

Among the most common symptoms of aneurysms that have not ruptured are dizziness, disturbances in perception, loss of vision and balance and, in general, a weakening of some psychological functions.

However, these symptoms can be confused with the effects of lack of sleep or fatigue and stress produced by a day. labor too intense, so that on many occasions they go unnoticed until the blood vessel ruptures and the hemorrhage.

2. Symptoms immediately after the break

The person who has ruptured a brain aneurysm will experience symptoms immediately, suddenly feeling much weaker and, in some cases, suffering severe disturbances in consciousness that may be accompanied by entry into a coma or sudden death. Typically, if consciousness is not lost, the most common signs that a aneurysm is tiredness, severe dizziness, blurred vision, and difficulty focusing attention in something.

It is also common to experience speech problems (aphasia), alterations in perception and entering a confused state. However, as we have seen, these symptoms depend on many factors, as does the prognosis.

Treatment

The treatment of cerebral aneurysms is always carried out by a medical team that intervenes directly on the altered area, so that it depends largely on the area of ​​the brain or the meninges that has been affected.

In any case, when it comes to stopping the bleeding the most commonly used techniques are clipping of the weakened area of ​​the blood vessel wall, causing it to stop being exposed to blood pressure, and the use of various techniques to redirect the blood leakage into the bloodstream.

Bibliographic references:

• Guglielmi G (September 2007). "History of endovascular endosaccular occlusion of brain aneurysms: 1965-1990". Interventional Neuroradiology.
• Lv X, Yang H, Liu P, Li Y (February 2016). "Flow-diverter devices in the treatment of intracranial aneurysms: A meta-analysis and systematic review". The Neuroradiology Journal.
• Schueler SJ, Beckett JH, Gettings DS (August 18, 2010). "Berry Aneurysm in the Brain". freemd.