Brain Aneurysm

Signs & symptoms

Brain aneurysms typically don't cause symptoms until they leak or rupture, causing bleeding into the brain and are discovered during tests for other conditions. Even when they cause no symptoms, these aneurysms should be treated to prevent future ruptures.

The hallmark symptom of a ruptured aneurysm is a sudden and extremely severe headache that may occur with nausea, vomiting, stiff neck, 受损的意识, 癫痫发作或昏迷.

未破裂动脉瘤的症状包括:

• 脑神经麻痹或不稳定的肌肉运动
• 瞳孔放大
• 复视
• 局部头痛
• 眼睛上方和后面疼痛

Diagnosis

A ruptured brain aneurysm is a very serious conditions that in some cases can be fatal. A quick and accurate diagnosis is essential for your recovery. 诊断动脉瘤常用的检查包括:

• 脑血管造影术. 这个测试通常用于 诊断动脉瘤. A special dye that can be seen on X-rays is injected into an artery that supplies blood to the brain. The dye flows through the brains blood vessels and can show any obstructions or leaks.
• 磁共振血管造影(MRA). 利用强大的磁场 MRI can generate a 大脑的三维图像 and a detailed image of blood vessels that can be used to detect, 诊断和帮助治疗动脉瘤. 这个过程是无痛的.
• 计算机断层扫描(CT). 在这个测试中，x射线束产生一个 大脑的三维图像. A CT scan can detect bleeding in the artery after the aneurysm has burst.

Treatments

Almost all brain aneurysms should be treated to prevent them from rupturing or repair ruptured aneurysms as quickly as possible and strengthen the arteries to prevent future ruptures.

Surgery

The following are some of the surgical techniques used to treat aneurysms.

• 三维计算机建模. 这种技术, 首先由加州大学旧金山分校医学中心的神经外科十大赌博平台排行榜实施, 用于难以治疗和罕见的动脉瘤. It produces 3-D images of the aneurysm and blood flowing through the arteries to the aneurysm. 染料被注入动脉以追踪血液流动. A computer superimposes that information over brain scans to compose a 3-D model of the aneurysm. 使用电脑, surgeons can test if different surgical techniques would alter blood flow enough to ease "hot spots" of pressure inside the aneurysm.
• 显微外科剪裁. A majority of aneurysms can be treated with microsurgical clipping. 动脉瘤通过颅骨的开口进入. A surgeon, using high-magnification operating microscopes, spreads apart brain tissue. A small metal clip is placed at the base of the aneurysm to tie off the bulging section of the artery. The clip must be placed without tearing the artery and causing a stroke.
• 颅底手术. This surgery is typically used for deep and complex aneurysms located beneath the brain. The aneurysm is accessed through the bone at the base of the skull. A surgeon accesses the aneurysm from underneath or the side of the artery. 较短的通路引起较少的干扰.
• 血管旁路移植术. Some aneurysms, such as those that are complex and large, require vascular bypass grafting. A vein is taken from the leg and used to connect an artery in the neck and an artery in the brain to bypass the aneurysm.

血管内治疗

A minimally invasive alternative to surgery is endovascular treatment of brain aneurysms, 称为血管内盘绕. 该手术不需要在头部开一个切口. 在全身麻醉或轻度镇静下进行, and has a shorter recovery time and hospital stay compared to conventional surgery. 血管内治疗, however, is not recommended for all patients.

这个过程包括放置小的, 金属线圈在动脉瘤内使用导管或长, 挠性管. The catheter is inserted into an artery in the leg and navigated through the vascular system, 进入头部和动脉瘤.

The coils detach from the catheter and are placed in the aneurysm, 它们在哪里阻碍血液流动，导致血液凝结, 破坏动脉瘤. Coils are made of platinum so they're visible on an X-ray and flexible so they can conform to the shape of the aneurysm.