A brain vessel aneurysm is a growth that forms on one of the brain vessels, capable of rapidly increasing in size as it fills with blood. The protruding part of the aneurysm can press on nerve endings or other vessels, but the real danger is the rupture of the aneurysm, which leads to bleeding in the brain.
Causes
Here are some causes of the development of brain vessel aneurysms. These include congenital fragility or genetic diseases of the brain vessels, heredity, hypertension and atherosclerosis, cystic medial necrosis, smoking and drug use, vascular injuries, infectious diseases, and tumors.
Symptoms of Brain Aneurysms
Small aneurysms develop without symptoms, and only upon reaching significant sizes do they begin to press on nerve endings and brain tissue. An enlarged brain vessel aneurysm has the following symptoms – the person experiences pain in the eyes, numbness and weakness, one side of the face becomes paralyzed, vision darkens, and pupils dilate. A rupture of the aneurysm causes a sudden headache, bouts of nausea and vomiting, double vision, stiffness in the occipital area, loss of consciousness, and less frequently seizures, and even coma. Before the rupture of the aneurysm, a person may experience headaches.
Diagnosis of Brain Aneurysms in Israel
An aneurysm can only be detected before rupture during an examination. In Israel, modern methods for diagnosing brain aneurysms are used. An intracranial angiogram shows the degree of destruction of arteries and narrowing of the brain vessels, as well as the presence of venous and arterial changes indicating the presence of an aneurysm. Computed tomography (CT) – painlessly and non-invasively shows the presence of an aneurysm, and in the case of rupture – whether there was bleeding. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) – provides the most detailed image of the brain vessels, the presence of an aneurysm, and bleeding.
Treatment of Brain Aneurysms in Israel
In Israel, specialists approach each case of aneurysm development individually, considering the characteristics of the aneurysm, the age and condition of the patient, and heredity. Patients require constant monitoring to be able to start appropriate treatment in a timely manner. Operations for treating brain vessel aneurysms are among the most dangerous and complex. In Israel, two types of such operations are practiced - occlusion and clipping of the aneurysm, as well as an alternative method - endovascular embolization. There is no special prevention for brain aneurysms. The patient should monitor their health, quit smoking, and avoid taking blood-thinning medications.