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Brain aneurysm

Aneurysma arteriae cerebri · Mozková výduť (aneuryzma)

What it is

A balloon on an artery at the base of the brain; most never burst, but a rupture bleeds into the space around the brain.

Symptoms & signs

  • Usually none until it bursts
  • sudden 'worst ever' thunderclap headache
  • vomiting and stiff neck
  • collapse or seizure
  • a drooping eyelid or double vision from pressure on a nerve

🚩 Get help if…

  • call 112 / 911 now Sudden worst-ever headache, peaking within a minute
  • call 112 / 911 now Headache with stiff neck, vomiting or collapse
  • call 112 / 911 now Drooping eyelid or double vision with a large pupil
  • see a doctor soon New or changing headaches with a known aneurysm

Where it strikes

Medical treatment

  • CT, then CT angiography or lumbar puncture
  • endovascular coiling or surgical clipping
  • nimodipine after a bleed
  • scan surveillance of small unruptured ones
  • blood-pressure control
  • flow-diverter stents (Pipeline and others) — FDA-approved since 2011 for large wide-necked aneurysms
  • intrasaccular device (WEB) — FDA-approved 2018 for wide-necked bifurcation aneurysms

Natural & lifestyle

  • Stop smoking (the biggest modifiable risk)
  • treat high blood pressure
  • avoid cocaine and heavy drinking

Emerging & experimental

  • AI prediction of rupture risk

Alternative, off-label & anecdotal

Approaches used outside the guidelines, with what their supporters report and what testing has found so far.

  • Low-dose aspirin — observational studies link it to fewer ruptures; trials running early / small studies
  • Herbal blood thinners (ginkgo, garlic, fish oil) — untested here; may worsen a bleed anecdotal / traditional

ICD codes