Cerebral aneurysm is a weak spot at an artery junction in the brain that bulges or balloons. The rupture of a cerebral aneurysm could lead to stroke or death.
A cerebral aneurysm is a weak spot at an artery junction in the brain that bulges or balloons. It often looks like a berry hanging on a stem and it could rupture, causing severe bleeding in or around the brain. This rupture could potentially cause a stroke or death.
Causes of Cerebral Aneurysm
Cerebral aneurysm is the result of thinning and degeneration of artery walls; they are often found at the junctions or branches in arteries, as those areas are weaker.
Signs and Symptoms of Cerebral Aneurysm
- sudden, extremely severe headaches
- nausea and vomiting
- stiff neck
- back pain
- blurred or double vision
- drooping eyelid
- sensitivity to light
- seizure
- transient loss of consciousness
- confusion
Diagnosis Options
Tests and methods of diagnosing cerebral aneurysm include:
- computerised tomography (CT) scan
- cerebrospinal fluid test
- magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan
- cerebral angiogram
- cerebral arteriogram
Treatment of Cerebral Aneurysm
The treatment of cerebral aneurysm aims to repair the blood vessel. There are two types of treatment available: surgical clipping and coiling.
Surgical clipping is a procedure where craniotomy surgery is performed, and a clip is placed across the base of the aneurysm to prevent blood from entering and causing further growth or rupture.
Coiling is filling the aneurysm with coils of platinum wire or latex to prevent more blood from entering the aneurysm.
There are other treatments available which relieve the symptoms and help to manage the complications. These include analgesic pain relievers, calcium channel blockers, interventions to prevent a stroke from insufficient blood flow, anti-seizure medications, ventricular catheters, shunt surgery, and rehabilitative therapy.
In partnership with
Copyright © Ministry of Health Singapore. All rights reserved.
Follow us
