Brain & Spine Aneurysms

Spine & Brain Aneurysm Treatment You Can Trust in the Central Valley

A brain aneurysm, also known as a cerebral aneurysm, is defined as a bulge in a brain blood vessel. Brain aneurysms are extremely dangerous because they are at risk for leaking or rupturing, which causes bleeding in the brain. Once a brain aneurysm ruptures, it becomes life-threatening and requires immediate treatment.

A spinal aneurysm is defined as a ballooning in an artery inside the dural sac. This medical condition is rare and should be treated as soon as possible, as it can be life-threatening to the patient.

Spinal & Brain Aneurysm Symptoms

If an aneurysm hasn’t ruptured, it may not produce any symptoms. Common signs of a ruptured brain aneurysm include:

• Sudden, extremely painful headache
• Seizure
• Drooping eyelids
• Confusion
• Loss of consciousness
• Stiff neck
• Nausea and vomiting
• Blurred vision
• Light sensitivity

A spinal aneurysm that has ruptured may present with the following symptoms:

• Acute paraplegia
• Loss of bowel and bladder control
• Sensory loss
• Acute onset of lower back pain

Diagnosing & Treating Brain & Spinal Aneurysms

In order to see if a patient is suffering from a spinal aneurysm, a physician must perform a catheter spinal angiogram, which is commonly done in patients with spinal hemorrhage. The most common form of treatment for spinal aneurysms is embolization, a minimally invasive procedure that blocks a blood vessel from developing abnormalities.

Brain aneurysms can be diagnosed with a:

• CT scan
• Cerebrospinal fluid test
• MRI
• Cerebral angiogram

Treatment options for a ruptured brain aneurysm include surgical clipping and endovascular coiling. Both of these procedures are considered high risk because they can cause bleeding or loss of blood flow to the brain.

If you suspect that a loved one has a ruptured aneurysm, it is important to get them medical treatment as soon as possible. If you have any questions about the types of medical conditions treated at Kaweah Delta, schedule a consultation with your primary care doctor or click HERE for a list of neurosurgeons in the area.

In Visalia, Kaweah Delta’s surgical team and local neurosurgeons partner to treat brain and spinal aneurysms suffered by patients from Visalia, Hanford, Tulare, Porterville, Fresno, Bakersfield and surrounding areas.