Signs of cerebral aneurysm

My nephew just had emergency surgery due to a ruptured cerebral aneurysm causing hemorrhage. How can we detect and screen for this condition early? (Tri Hung, Tay Ninh)

Reply:

Aneurysms can occur in anyone. Most cases of cerebral aneurysms or cerebral vascular malformations occur silently, without specific symptoms. Some easily confused signs that may occur include headaches, dizziness, and difficulty sleeping.

A large aneurysm can rupture, causing subarachnoid hemorrhage or intracerebral hemorrhage. At this time, the patient often experiences symptoms such as sudden, unusual, and worsening headaches, nausea, vomiting, stiff neck, lethargy, weakness in the limbs, and coma. The patient needs to be taken to a medical facility with rapid diagnostic and treatment facilities for timely treatment.

Although signs of cerebral aneurysms are difficult to recognize, they can be actively screened and detected using modern techniques. 3D magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of cerebral blood vessels helps detect aneurysms or cerebral vascular malformations.

Digital subtraction angiography (DSA) helps to detect small aneurysms. Doctors rely on MRI or DSA (digital subtraction angiography) results and related scores to determine the condition, severity and provide appropriate treatment.

Common treatments for aneurysms include endovascular intervention to occlude the aneurysm, surgical clipping, removal of the aneurysm, or medical treatment with continued monitoring.

A ruptured cerebral aneurysm causes a hemorrhagic stroke. Regular stroke screening is an effective way to screen, diagnose, and detect abnormalities. Doctors perform a clinical and general examination, combined with having the patient do specialized tests and imaging such as blood tests, carotid ultrasound, electrocardiogram, kidney and liver function tests, MRI, CT scan of the brain, etc.

More in-depth tests such as genetic testing, multiple atherosclerosis, risk of hypercoagulation... are applied depending on the case.

MSc.BSCKII Mai Hoang Vu
Department of Neurosurgery, Tam Anh General Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City

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