Aneurysm Clipping

What is Cerebral Aneurysm?

A cerebral aneurysm is a weak spot on an artery in the brain that balloons or bulges out and fills with blood. The bulging aneurysm can put pressure on the nerves or brain tissue. It may also burst or rupture, spilling blood into the surrounding tissue (called a hemorrhage).

Symptoms

Unruptured aneurysm

Most cerebral aneurysms do not show symptoms until they either become very large or rupture causing hemorrhage.

A larger aneurysm that is steadily growing may press on tissues and nerves causing:

• pain above and behind the eye
• weakness
• paralysis on one side of the face
• a dilated pupil in the eye
• vision changes or double vision.

Ruptured aneurysm

When an aneurysm ruptures , patient always experiences a sudden and extremely severe headache (e.g., the worst headache of one's life) and may also develop:

• double vision
• nausea
• vomiting
• stiff neck
• seizures
• loss of consciousness (this may happen briefly or may be prolonged)

Leaking aneurysm

Sometimes an aneurysm may leak a small amount of blood into the brain (called a sentinel bleed). Sentinel or warning headaches may result from an aneurysm that suffers a tiny leak, days or weeks prior to a significant rupture. However, only a minority of individuals have a sentinel headache prior to rupture.

Evaluation

If you experience a sudden, severe headache, especially when it is combined with any other symptoms, you should seek immediate medical attention.

Most cerebral aneurysms go unnoticed until they rupture or are detected during medical imaging tests for another condition.

Usually patient will undergo diagnostic tests like to know the exact characteristics of aneurysm

• CT Brain
• MRI brain
• Cerebral Angiography

Treatment

It will be decide a variety of factors when determining the best option for treating an aneurysm, including:

• type, size, and location of the aneurysm
• risk of rupture
• the person's age and health
• personal and family medical history
• risk of treatment.

Surgery

There are a few surgical options available for treating cerebral aneurysms. These procedures carry some risk such as possible damage to other blood vessels, the potential for aneurysm recurrence and rebleeding, and a risk of stroke.

• Microvascular clipping. This procedure involves cutting off the flow of blood to the aneurysm and requires open brain surgery. A doctor will locate the blood vessels that feed the aneurysm and place a tiny, metal, clothespin-like clip on the aneurysm's neck to stop its blood supply. Clipping has been shown to be highly effective, depending on the location, size, and shape of the aneurysm. In general, aneurysms that are completely clipped do not recur.

Endovascular treatment

• Platinum coil embolization.
• Flow diversion devices.