Brain Aneurysm (cont.)
What is the treatment for brain aneurysm?
Treatment for a symptomatic aneurysm is to repair the blood vessels. Clipping
and coiling are two treatment options.
- Clipping: A neurosurgeon can operate on the brain by cutting open the skull,
identifying the damaged blood vessel and putting a clip across the aneurysm.
This prevents blood from entering the aneurysm and causing further growth or
blood leakage.
- Coiling: An interventional radiologist can thread a tube through the
arteries, as with an angiogram, identify the aneurysm, and fill it with coils of
platinum wire or with latex. This prevents further blood from entering the
aneurysm.
Both these options have the risk of damaging the blood vessel and causing
more bleeding, damaging nearby brain tissue, and causing the surrounding blood
vessels to go into spasm; depriving brain tissue of blood supply and causing a
stroke.
Prior, during, and after surgery, attention is paid to protect the brain and
its blood vessels from potential further damage. Vitals signs are monitored
frequently, and heart monitors are used to watch for
abnormal heart rhythms.
Medications may be used to prevent blood vessel spasm,
seizure, agitation, and
pain.
What is the outcome of brain aneurysm?
Brain aneurysms are deadly. About 10% of patients with a ruptured aneurysm
die before receiving medical care. If untreated, another 50% will die within a
month, with 25% of patients sustaining another bleeding episode within a week.
Aside from the bleeding issues, there is significant risk of artery spasm
leading to stroke.
Survival rates are increased by early presentation to the hospital, early
aneurysm repair, and control of potential blood vessel spasm with medications.
Next: What are future directions for the treatment of brain aneurysm? »
- Ultrasound - Learn an ultrasound procedure, and conditions and diseases it assists in diagnosing and screening like tumors, cysts, heart conditions and more.
- High Blood Pressure - Learn about high blood pressure symptoms like headache, dizziness, shortness of breath, blurred vision and more. Causes, and normal blood pressure information is included.
- Headache - Learn about the different types of headaches, migraine, tension, cluster, menstrual, and spinal headaches; and their causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment.
Latest Medical News
Neurology RSS