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.