Brain Aneurysm

Introduction of Brain Aneurysm

A brain aneurysm is an abnormal bulging or protruding of one of the arteries

inside the brain. It is a medical condition that is characterised by abnormal
widening or ballooning of a blood vessel in the brain, which has weakened over
time. It mainly develops at the junctions of the large arteries present at the base
of the brain, in a region called the Circle of Willis. When the blood vessel gets
ruptured, it causes bleeding into the brain or the space closely surrounding it
(called the subarachnoid space), thereby, leading to a subarachnoid haemorrhage.
It can be life-threatening and one should seekimmediate medical attention.
However, most of them remain small and never become an issue and usually get
detected during tests for other conditions.

Casue of Brain Aneurysm

A brain aneurysm is an acquired problem i.e., it is not present from birth but
develops over time. However, some of the probable causes are:
Neurofibromatosis:Neurofibromatosis is agenetic disorderof the
nervous system that dominantly affects the growth and development of neural
or nerve cell tissues that causes tumours to grow on the nerve.
Tobacco Consumption:Chewing tobacco or smoking is another factor that
primarily increases the risk of this disorder. In fact, studies show that nonsmokers have nearly 10 times more potential to sustain a rupture than a
smoker.
High Blood Pressure:The risk of subarachnoid haemorrhage or rupture is
more in people with a history ofhigh blood pressure(hypertension).
High Cholesterol:Although the effect ofhigh cholesterolremains unclear,
some studies show that it can also lead to the rupturing of the aneurysm.
Alcohol Abuse:Moderate to high level ofalcoholabuse is another factor
contributing to a rupture.

Symptom of Brain Aneurysm

Usually there are no symptoms however, some of the probable ones are given
below:
Severeheadaches
Peripheral vision deficits
Perceptual problems
Thinking or processing problems
Speech complications
Short-termmemory difficulty
Sudden changes in behaviour
Decreased concentration
Loss of balance and coordination
Fatigue

Diagnosis of Brain Aneurysm

The diagnosis generally includes the following tests:

Computed Tomography (CT) Scan:To detect bleeding in the brain.

Computed Tomography Angiogram (CTA) scan:To locate the actual site of the
Magnetic Resonance Angiography (MRA):To obtain images or pictures of blood
Cerebral Angiogram:It is an X-ray test, employed to locate small (less than 5 mm

Treatment of Brain Aneurysm

The treatment involves repairing the affected blood vessels. Coil embolisation and
surgical clipping are the two main surgeries used to cure this disorder. Coil embolisation
is a procedure in which a small tube is inserted into the affected artery. Tiny metal coils
are then moved through the tube into the aneurysm, thereby easing pressure and
reducing its probability to rupture. This procedure is less invasive and more effective
than surgical clipping. Surgical clipping is another method, where a tiny metal clip is
placed around the base of the aneurysm to isolate it from normal blood circulation. It
also relieves the pressure and keeps it from rupturing.
A brain aneurysm can be life-threatening, if left untreated for long. The main dangers
are suffering from astrokeor in extreme cases, death, especially if it ruptures and
bleeds. However, its survival rates can increase by immediate hospitalisation and early
detection. Potential blood vessel spasms need to be controlled with medications as
soon as possible.