“All of a sudden, it felt like a lightning bolt hit me; it was the
worst headache I had ever felt…”
Bleeding in the brain from a brain aneurysm remains a significant cause
of death and disability. Aneurysms occur when a weak or thin spot on an
artery in the brain that balloons or bulges out and fills with blood.
Arteries are the blood vessels carrying blood from the heart to different
parts of the body and normally have thick, muscular walls, even inside
the brain. These bulging aneurysms are weaker than the normal vessels,
making them more likely to rupture and bleed.
If these aneurysms rupture, a severe, sudden-onset headache is usually
the first symptom felt. Brain Aneurysm rupture survivors describe this
headache as the worst headache of their life, or a headache as swift and
severe as a thunderclap.
If you suffer a sudden, severe headache like this, time is of the essence.
While treatment options are available to stabilize and improve your chances
for recovery, it is crucial that you present to the emergency department
as soon as possible. As with many neurologic diseases, time is brain!
If an aneurysm has ruptured, it must be secured through either a traditional
neurosurgical procedure, or through an endovascular procedure –
one performed inside of the blood vessels. The determination for which
of these procedures is most appropriate will be made by your neurosurgeon
based on the location, size, and shape of the aneurysm.
Once the aneurysm is secured, the risk for further injury is not over.
You will be cared for in the critical care unit, where medications and
further tests will be performed to ensure none of these frequent complications
are encountered.
Seizure
Spasm of the blood vessels
Stroke from vessel spasm
Rebleeding of the aneurysm
Any evidence of these symptoms will be swiftly addressed in order to maximize
the potential of recovery.
If an aneurysm has not ruptured, there are opportunities to evaluate the
aneurysm and determine the safest strategy for treatment. Treatment will
depend on many elements including the following:
Location of the aneurysm
Size
Shape
Evolution
Depending on these characteristics and the evolution of the aneurysm, meaning
whether it has grown or changed shape over an interval period, a treatment
plan will be custom tailored for you.
Such a plan will weigh the risks of aneurysm rupture compared to the inherent
risks associated with any surgery. It also allows for preparations to
be made to treat including ordering specialty equipment and pretreating
any heart disease, or other comorbid illness.
While there is a chance that anyone could have an aneurysm, our goal is
to reduce your risk of rupture, or complication.
Many factors can increase your risk of having a ruptured aneurysm; some
of which you cannot control:
Increasing age
Family history/genetics
Female gender
People of color
Certain diseases (Fibromuscular dysplasia, syphilis, marfan’s syndrome)
There are many more factors that you can directly control, not only to
reduce your risk of a ruptured aneurysm, but improve your overall health!
Tobacco abuse (Cigar, cigarettes, vaping, and dip)
High blood pressure
Drug abuse (including cocaine, heroin/opiates, PCP)
Severe head trauma
Excessive alcohol abuse
Like many neurologic diseases, never having an aneurysm rupture is the
best strategy. Once an aneurysm ruptures, the fatality rate can be as
high as 40%, so reducing your risk by addressing the above health problems
can literally save your life!
