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Brain aneurysms are often discovered when they rupture, causing bleeding into the brain
or the space closely surrounding the brain called the subarachnoid space, causing a
subarachnoid hemorrhage. Subarachnoid hemorrhage from a ruptured brain aneurysm can
lead to a hemorrhagic stroke, brain damage and death.
The main goals of treatment once an aneurysm has ruptured are to stop the bleeding and
potential permanent damage to the brain and to reduce the risk of recurrence. Unruptured
brain aneurysms are sometimes treated to prevent rupture. Learn more about treatment
options for a brain aneurysm.
Sometimes patients describing "the worst headache in my life" are actually experiencing
one of the symptoms of brain aneurysms related to having a rupture. Other ruptured
cerebral aneurysm symptoms include:
Because the symptoms of brain aneurysms can also be associated with other medical
conditions, diagnostic neuroradiology is regularly used to identify both ruptured and
unruptured brain aneurysms.
To determine the exact location, size and shape of an aneurysm (ruptured or unruptured),
neuroradiologists will use either cerebral angiography or tomographic angiography.
To get to the aneurysm, surgeons must first remove a section of the skull, a procedure
called a craniotomy. The surgeon then spreads the brain tissue apart and places a tiny
metal clip across the neck to stop blood flow into the aneurysm. After clipping the
aneurysm, the bone is secured in its original place, and the wound is closed.
Minimally-Invasive Treatment
Coil Embolization or Endovascular Coiling
Symptoms
Symptoms vary widely from person to person, depending on the area of the brain
involved. The most frequent symptoms include temporary loss of vision (typically
amaurosis fugax); difficulty speaking (aphasia); weakness on one side of the body
(hemiparesis); numbness or tingling (paresthesia), usually on one side of the body; and
loss of consciousness. If there are neurological symptoms persisting for more than 24
hours, it is classified as a cerebrovascular accident, or stroke.
Prognosis
Patients diagnosed with a TIA are sometimes said to have had a warning for an
approaching cerebrovascular accident. If the time period of blood supply impairment lasts
more than a few minutes, the nerve cells of that area of the brain die and cause permanent
neurologic deficit. One third of the people with TIA later have recurrent TIAs and one
third have a stroke due to permanent nerve cell loss.
The ABCD2 score can predict likelihood of subsequent stroke. The score is calculated
as:
Age ≥ 60 years = 1 point
Clinical features
Duration of attack
≥ 60 minutes = 2 points
Diabetes = 1 point
Interpretation of score, the risk for stroke:
Score 0-3 (low)
The most common cause of a TIA is an embolus (a small blood clot) that occludes an
artery in the brain. This most frequently arises from an atherosclerotic plaque in one of
the carotid arteries (i.e. a number of major arteries in the head and neck) or from a
thrombus (i.e. a blood clot) in the heart due to atrial fibrillation
Prevention
Primary prevention
The use of anti-coagulant medications, heparin and warfarin; or anti-platelet medications
such as asprin.
Secondary prevention
Tertiary prevention
Treatment
The mainstay of treatment following acute recovery from a TIA should be to diagnose
and treat the underlying cause. It is not always immediately possible to tell the difference
between a CVA (stroke) and a TIA. Most patients who are diagnosed at a hospital's
Accident & Emergency Department as having suffered from a TIA will be discharged
home and advised to contact their primary physician to organize further investigations.
The initial treatment is Aspirin, second line is clopidogrel, third line is ticlopidine. If TIA
is recurrent after Aspirin treatment, the combination of Aspirin and dipirydamole is
needed (Aggrenox).
An electrocardiogram (ECG) may show atrial fibrillation, a common cause of TIAs, or
other arrhythmias that may cause embolisation to the brain. An echocardiogram is useful
Ar teri oveno us Malf or ma tion
Symp toms
The most frequently observed problems related to an AVM are headache and
seizure. Moreover, AVMs in certain critical locations may stop the circulation of the
cerebrospinal fluid, causing accumulation of the fluid within the skull and giving
rise to a clinical condition called hydrocephalus.
Dia gnos is
An AVM diagnosis is established by neuroimaging studies. A computed tomography
scan of the head (head CT) is usually performed; this can reveal the site of the bleed.
More detailed pictures of the tangle of blood vessels that compose an AVM can be
obtained by using radioactive reagents injected into the blood stream, then observed
using a fluoroscope or Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). A spinal tap (lumbar
puncture) can be used to examine spinal fluid for red blood cells; this condition is
indicative of leakage of blood from the bleeding vessels into the subarachnoid space.
The best images of an AVM are obtained through cerebral angiography. This
procedure involves using a catheter, threaded through an artery up to the head, to
deliver a contrast agent into the AVM. As the contrast agent flows through the AVM
structure, a sequence of X-ray images can be obtained to ascertain the size, shape
and extent of that structure.
Pathoph ysio log y
While the cause of AVMs remains unknown, the main risk is intracranial
hemorrhage. This risk is difficult to quantify. Approximately 40% of cases with
cerebral AVM are discovered through symptoms caused by sudden bleeding due to
the fragility of abnormally-structured blood vessels in the brain. However, some
patients may remain asymptomatic or have minor complaints due to the local effects
of the tangle of vessels. If a rupture or bleeding incident occurs, the blood may
penetrate either into the brain tissue (cerebral hemorrhage) or into the
subarachnoid space. This space is located between the sheaths (meninges)
surrounding the brain (subarachnoid hemorrhage).
Once an AVM bleeds, the probability of rebleeding may increase. However, as long
as the AVM is unruptured, the risk of hemorrhage may be relatively low.
AVMs that do not bleed may cause symptoms such as epileptic seizures, headaches,
or fluctuating neurological symptoms. Many of them may even remain
asymptomatic.
Trea tment
The treatment in the case of sudden bleeding is focused on restoration of vital
function. Anticonvulsant medications such as phenytoin are often used to control
seizure; medications or procedures may be employed to relieve intracranial
pressure. Eventually, curative treatment may be required to prevent recurrent
hemorrhage. However, any type of intervention may also carry a risk of creating
new neurological deficits in about 10%.
In the U.S., surgical removal of the blood vessels involved (craniotomy) is the
preferred curative treatment for most types of AVM. While this surgery results in an
immediate, complete removal of the AVM, risks exist depending on the size and the
location of the malformation.
Radiation treatment (radiosurgery) has been widely used on smaller AVMs with
considerable success. The Gamma Knife, developed by Swedish physician Lars
Leksell, is one apparatus used in radiosurgery to precisely apply a controlled
radiation dosage to the volume of the brain occupied by the AVM. While this
treatment is non-invasive, two to three years may pass before the complete effects
are known. Complete occlusion of the AVM may or may not occur, and 8%-10% of
patients develop long term neurological symptoms after radiation.
Embolization, that is, occlusion of blood vessels with coils or particles introduced by
a radiographically guided catheter, is frequently used as an adjunct to either
surgery or radiation treatment. However, embolization alone is rarely successful in
completely blocking blood flow through the AVM.
The benefit of invasive treatment for unruptured AVMs has never been proven, as
the risk of intervention may be as high as the spontaneous bleeding risk. An
international study is currently under way to determine the best therapy for
patients with unruptured AVMs
CEREBROVASCULAR ACCIDENT
GENERAL INFORMATION:
• A piece of fatty plaque (debris) that is formed in a blood vessel breaks away
and flows through the bloodstream going to the brain. The plaque blocks an
artery which causes a stroke. This is called an embolic stroke.
• A thrombus (blood clot) formed in an artery (blood vessel) and blocked blood
flow to the brain. This is called a thrombotic stroke.
• A torn artery in the brain, causing blood to spill out. This is called a cerebral
hemorrhage or hemorrhagic stroke. It often results from high blood pressure.
What are the signs and symptoms of a cerebrovascular accident? Signs and
symptoms of a stroke depend upon the part of the brain affected and how much
damage occurred. During a CVA, you may have numbness (no feeling), tingling,
weakness, or paralysis (cannot move) on one side of the body. You may have trouble
walking, swallowing, talking, or understanding. Your vision (sight) may be blurred
or doubled. You may have a severe headache, feel dizzy, confused, or pass out. These
signs or symptoms may appear within minutes or hours.
How is a cerebrovascular accident diagnosed? You may have any of the following
tests to diagnose CVA:
• CT scan:
o This is also called a CAT scan. A special x-ray machine uses a
computer to take pictures of your brain. It may be used to look at
bones, muscles, brain tissue, and blood vessels.
o You may be given dye before the pictures are taken. The dye is usually
given in your IV. The dye may help your caregiver see the pictures
better. People who are allergic to iodine or shellfish (lobster, crab, or
shrimp) may be allergic to some dyes. Tell the caregiver if you are
allergic to shellfish, or have other allergies or medical conditions.
• Magnetic resonance imaging: Using magnetic waves, this test, also called an
MRI, takes pictures of your head. An MRI may show the cause of a CVA.
• Carotid ultrasonography
• Arteriography
• Do not smoke or drink too much alcohol. Alcohol is found in beer, wine,
liquor, like vodka or whiskey, and other adult drinks. Different people have
different ideas about what too much means. It is important to remember that
how often you drink is as important as how much you drink.
• If you have atrial fibrillation (an irregular or fast heart beat), you may need
to take antithrombotic medicine. Having a recent heart attack may also
require you to take antithrombotics.
• Keep your blood cholesterol level in a normal range. Eat foods low in fat to
decrease the risk of developing plaque (fatty deposits) in your blood vessels.
If you have hyperlipidemia (high blood cholesterol level), talk to your
caregiver about ways to lower it.
• Monitor and control your blood sugar level if you have diabetes.
Head injury
Is a trauma to the head, that may or may not include injury to the
brain (see also brain injury).
The incidence (number of new cases) of head injury is 300 per 100,000 per
year (0..3% of the population), with a mortality of 25 per 100,000 in North
America and 9 per 100,000 in Britain. Head trauma is a common cause of
childhood hospitalization.
Head injuries include both injuries to the brain and those to other parts of
the head, such as the scalp and skull.
A head injury may cause a skull fracture, which may or may not be
associated with injury to the brain. Some patients may have linear or
depressed skull fractures.
Brain injury can be at the site of impact, but can also be at the opposite side
of the skull due to a contrecoup effect (the impact to the head can cause the
brain to move within the skull, causing the brain to impact the interior of the
skull opposite the head-impact).
If the impact causes the head to move, the injury may be worsened, because
the brain may ricochet inside the skull (causing additional impacts), or the
brain may stay relatively still (due to inertia) but be hit by the moving skull.
o Skull fracture
o Lacerations to the scalp and resulting hemorrhage of the skin
o Traumatic subdural hematoma, a bleeding below the dura mater
which may develop slowly
o Traumatic extradural, or epidural hematoma, bleeding between the
dura mater and the skull
o Traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage
o Cerebral contusion, a bruise of the brain
o Concussion, a temporary loss of function due to trauma
o Dementia pugilistica, or "punch-drunk syndrome", caused by
repetitive head injuries, for example in boxing or other contact sports
o A severe injury may lead to a coma or death
Symptoms
Presentation varies according to the injury. Some patients with head trauma
stabilize and other patients deteriorate. A patient may present with or
without neurologic deficit.
o loss of consciousness,
o confusion,
o drowsiness,
o personality change,
o seizures,
o nausea and vomiting,
o headache,
o a lucid interval, during which a patient appears conscious only to
deteriorate later
Because brain injuries can be life threatening, even people with apparently
slight injuries, with no noticeable signs or complaints, require close
observation. The caretakers of those patients with mild trauma who are
released from the hospital are frequently advised to rouse the patient several
times during the next 12 to 24 hours to assess for worsening symptoms.
Management
Unfortunately, once the brain has been damaged by trauma, there is no quick
fix. However, there are some steps that can be taken to prevent secondary
damage. If left untreated many patients with head injury will rapidly develop
complications which may lead to death or permanent disability. Prompt
medical treatment may prevent the worsening of symptoms and lead to a
better outcome. Medical treatment should begin at the scene of the trauma.
Paramedics will generally immobilize the patient to insure no further
damage to the spine or nervous system, insert an airway to insure
uninterrupted breathing, and perform endotracheal intubation if indicated.
One or more IVs will be inserted to maintain perfusion status. In some cases
medications may be administered to sedate or paralyze the patient to prevent
additional movement which may worsen the brain injury. The patient should
be delivered promptly to a hospital with neurosurgical capabilities. The
management of brain injury requires the involvement of subspecialists who
are generally available only at larger hospitals. Primary treatment involves
controlling elevated intracranial pressure. This can include sedation,
paralytics, cerebrospinal fluid diversion. Second line alternatives include
decompressive craniectomy (Jagannathan et al. found a net 65% favorable
outcomes rate in pediatric patients), barbiturate coma, hypertonic saline and
hypothermia. Although all of these methods have potential benefits, there has
been no randomized study that has shown unequivocal benefit.
Delirium
- disturbance of consciousness and cognition
- usually reversible, with acute onset
Causes
Delirium may be caused by severe physical or mental illness, or any
process which interferes with the normal metabolism or function of the
brain. For example, fever, pain, poisons (including toxic drug reactions),
brain injury, surgery, traumatic shock, severe lack of food or water or sleep,
and even withdrawal symptoms of certain drug and alcohol dependent states,
are all known to cause delirium.
- Orientation to place
- Distractibility
- Ability to converse
Your blood is normally a liquid that travels smoothly through your arteries and
veins. Sometimes, however, blood components, called platelets, can form clumps
and, together with other blood components, can cause the blood to gel. This process
is called clotting or, more technically, coagulation. This is a normal process that
protects you from excessive bleeding from even a minor injury. However, in certain
circumstances blood clots can build up inside a blood vessel and block blood flow. At
other times, pieces of these clots can break off, travel through your bloodstream,
lodge in a blood vessel somewhere else in your body and obstruct normal blood flow.
Blood clots in your heart or lungs, for example, can starve the organ and be life
threatening.
Depending upon the situation, your physician may decide to provide thrombolytic
therapy, also called thrombolysis, as an emergency treatment or as a scheduled
procedure to dissolve the blood clots. For example, you may receive emergency
thrombolysis if you are having a stroke. In some circumstances, if you have DVT or
a blocked bypass graft, your physician may schedule thrombolytic therapy for you.
How do I prepare?
First your physician will ask questions about your general health, medical history,
and symptoms. In addition, your physician will conduct a physical examination.
Together these are known as a patient history and exam. As part of your history and
exam, your physician will ask you to list any medications, including vitamins or
dietary supplements, you take. Some of these substances may affect your blood's
clotting ability. Your physician will also want to know when your symptoms occur
and how often.
Next, your physician will order tests to make sure that you are able to receive
thrombolysis safely. For example, he or she will check to see if your blood is clotting
properly and that other factors, such as the mineral salts in your blood, are normal.
The tests you will receive depend on which blood vessel is blocked and your medical
condition. For example, your physician may order an echocardiogram test to find
out whether there is a blood clot in your heart or an electrocardiogram (ECG) to
evaluate your heart rhythm.
Your physician will give you the necessary instructions you need to follow before the
thrombolysis procedure, such as fasting. Usually, your physician will ask you not to
eat or drink anything 12 hours before your procedure. Your physician will also
discuss with you whether to reduce or stop any medications that might increase your
risk of bleeding or other complications.
You will usually undergo a test called angiography either before or as part of
thrombolytic therapy. Angiography creates a picture of your blood vessels (called an
angoigram), and uses a dye, called contrast, which is eventually flushed out through
your kidneys. If you have kidney trouble, or if you have had a test that uses contrast
before and had an allergic reaction to the contrast, you should tell your vascular
surgeon. He or she may prescribe medications designed to minimize the chance of
problems with the contrast material.
You may be a candidate for thrombolytic therapy if you have symptoms of a stroke,
heart attack, pulmonary embolism, DVT, or a clot in an artery or bypass graft in a
limb. These symptoms may include:
• Chest pain
• Numbness or tingling on one side of the body
• Blurred vision in one eye
• Slurred speech
• Sudden weakness
• Severe swelling of an arm or leg; or
• Pain, numbness, or coldness in a limb
If you have diabetes or kidney disease, you may have a higher risk of complications
from the contrast agents used in the angiogram. If you have kidney disease,
sometimes your physician can treat you with medications or fluids before you
receive contrast, to protect your kidneys and minimize the risk.
People with blood clotting disorders also may have a higher risk of complications
from thrombolysis. Other factors that may increase the risk for complications
include:
Thrombolytic drugs can be delivered in two ways: through a short catheter inserted
in a vein (called an intravenous, or IV, catheter), or through a long catheter that is
guided to the clot through your arteries or veins. In emergencies, vascular surgeons
often choose the IV method because it is quick and safe to perform outside of a
hospital. If your physician chooses to guide the catheter directly to the clot, the end
of the catheter may be placed in the vessels leading to your brain, lung, heart, arm,
or leg depending upon the location of the clot.
To deliver the thrombolytic therapy, your physician will make a
small puncture over an artery or vein in your groin, your wrist,
or your elbow. This place is called the access site. Before inserting
the catheter through this puncture, he or she will clean your skin
and shave any hair. This reduces your risk of infection. Your
physician then will numb your skin with a local anesthetic and
then sometimes makes a small cut or puncture to reach the blood
vessel below. Although you may be given some mild sedation, you
will usually stay awake during the procedure.
Once your physician locates the clot, depending on the particular circumstances, he
or she may inject the thrombolytic drugs through an IV catheter. More commonly,
your vascular surgeon will guide a longer catheter through your blood vessels to the
vicinity of the clot and then inject the drugs near or into it. Because you have no
nerve endings in your blood vessels, you will not feel the catheters as they move
through your body.
• Streptokinase
• Urokinase; and
• Tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA)
Your physician will periodically monitor the x-ray screen to see the clot breaking up.
However, depending on the size and location of the clot, the drugs your physician
chooses, and other factors, this process can take several hours. Sometimes, if you
have a severe blockage, the treatment could last for several days. Once the clot has
been dissolved or if it cannot be dissolved further, your physician will stop the
medication. When the tests used to monitor your blood's coagulation ability are in a
satisfactory range, your physician will then remove the IV or catheter, and press on
the access site for 10 to 20 minutes to stop any bleeding. During the process, and for
several hours afterwards, your physician will ask you to remain still to minimize the
risk of bleeding from the access site.
The technique for mechanical thrombectomy is similar, except that small devices are
attached to the catheter tip remove the clot or even break it up physically. These
devices include a suction cup, a rotating device, and a high-speed fluid jet.
Mechanical thrombectomy can work faster than thrombolytic drugs in some cases,
and in favorable circumstances the procedure may take as little as 30 minutes. You
physician will advise you if you are a good candidate for mechanical thrombectomy.
Usually, you will stay in bed as you recover from thrombolytic therapy. During this
time, your physician and the hospital staff closely watch you for any complications.
You may receive fluids, antibiotics, or painkillers. If your physician inserted the
catheter through an artery in your arm or leg, you may have to hold the limb
straight for several hours. Once any bleeding from the access site stops, and your
vital signs are normal, you may be discharged. Often, however, you will require
further hospitalization for treatment of the underlying reason for the clot, or for
adjustment of anticoagulation doses if needed to prevent clots from reforming.
If you notice any unusual symptoms after or during your procedure, you should tell
your physician immediately. These symptoms may include:
Before your discharge, your physician will give you instructions about everyday
tasks to follow after you return home. For example, you should not lift more than
about 10 pounds for the first few days after your procedure. You should drink
plenty of water for 2 days to help flush the contrast dye out of your body. You can
usually shower 24 hours after your procedure, but you should avoid baths for a few
days.
During your recovery, you may experience nausea, vomiting, or coughing. You
should tell your physician if any nausea, back pain or lightheadedness lingers,
because these symptoms could mean you have internal bleeding.
Complications are not unusual with thrombolytic therapy, which is why it should be
carried out under close supervision. However, your physician can manage most of
them, including:
Bleeding in the brain leading to stroke, can also occur, but it is rare and affects
fewer than 1 in 100 patients.