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The Surgical Technologist
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DECEMBER 2014
548
there are more than 30,000 individuals who suffer com-
plications from cerebral aneurysms, with thousands more
worldwide.
1
C A U S E S O F C E R E B R A L A N E U R Y S M S
A number of conditions might contribute to the cause of
cerebral aneurysms. Individuals can have a congenital pre-
disposition to aneurysms that might result from an innate
abnormality in artery walls leading to the brain.
6
Addi-
tionally, cerebral aneurysms are found to be more com-
mon in people with genetic diseases, such as connective
tissue disorders and polycystic kidney disease. Certain
circulatory disorders, such as tangles of arteries and veins
that disrupt blood flow to the brain, might contribute to
the formation of cerebral aneurysms. Researchers have
found that cancer-related aneurysms often are associated
with tumors of the head and neck. Additional causes of
cerebral aneurysms can include trauma or injury to the
head, high blood pressure, infection, tumors, atheroscle-
rosis and other vascular diseases. Cigarette smoking and
drug abuse, particularly the habitual use of cocaine, have
proven to cause an inflammation of blood vessels in the
brain and eventually have led to the development of cere-
bral aneurysms. Some research has tested whether or not
use of oral contraceptives may increase the risk of devel-
oping an aneurysm, however, more research needs to be
conducted to further evaluate this hypothesis.
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C L A S S I F I C A T I O N O F A N E U R Y S M S
Cerebral aneurysms are classified into three distinct types.
2
A saccular aneurysm is a rounded or pouch-like sac of
blood attached by a neck or stem to an artery or a branch of
a blood vessel. This type often is referred to as a berry aneu-
rysm for its resemblance to a berry hanging from a vine.
It is the most common form of a cerebral aneurysm and
typically is found on arteries at the base of the brain. This
type is most commonly found in adults. The second type is
a lateral aneurysm that appears as a bulge on one wall of the
blood vessel. The third type is termed a fusiform aneurysm,
which is formed by widening along all walls of the vessel.
Aneurysms are classified by size from small to giant. Small
aneurysms are less than 11 millimeters in diameter; large
aneurysms are 11 to 25 millimeters, while giant aneurysms
are greater than 25 millimeters in diameter.
S I G N S A N D S Y M P T O M S
Cerebral aneurysms most often do not exhibit signs or symp-
toms until they become large or burst. Small, unchanging
aneurysms can occur in the brain and never produce symp-
toms. If an aneurysm continues to grow, it begins to press on
tissues and nerves. Ensuing symptoms of this growth may
include pain above and behind the eye, numbness, weak-
ness or paralysis on one side of the face, dilated pupils and
vision changes. Once an aneurysm hemorrhages, individu-
als usually experience a sudden and severe headache. It dif-
fers in severity and intensity from any other headache an
individual has previously experienced, with most saying it
is the worst headache they have ever had. Other symptoms
include double vision, nausea, vomiting, stiff neck and/or
loss of consciousness.
2
Signs that a cerebral aneurysm has ruptured or burst
include nausea and vomiting accompanied by a severe head-
ache, a drooping eyelid, sensitivity to light and changes in
the mental status or level of awareness of an affected indi-
vidual. At times, some individuals have experienced sei-
zures, have become unconscious or entered into a prolonged
coma.
3
D I A G N O S I S
In the article “Aneurysm Patient Receives Second Chance at
Life,” a patient was at the hospital with a painful headache.
The medical team was going to discharge her with pain med-
ication, but she insisted on a computed tomography (CT)
scan. The doctor told her she was fortunate to insist on the
scan because if she hadn’t she most likely would have gone
home and died.
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Unfortunately, most cerebral aneurysms
are overlooked until they either rupture or are detected by
Cerebral aneurysms occur in as many
as 1 in 20 individuals throughout the
world. Remarkably, most aneurysms
are never detected, and most individu-
als with aneurysms remain asymptomat-
ic throughout their lives.
