Brain Aneurysm
What is a Brain Aneurysm?
脑动脉瘤或大脑动脉瘤发生时，当脑部血管上的弱点凸起时。凸起会给神经和脑组织施加压力。在某些情况下，隆起会破裂或出血，这会导致大脑出血。它们经常出现在提供富含氧气血液的大脑前部的动脉中。破裂的大脑动脉瘤被认为是威胁生命的，可能导致中风，脑损伤甚至死亡。大多数大脑动脉瘤永远不会破裂，也不会引起症状。估计表明，大约3％至5％的美国人一生可能会发展出大脑动脉瘤。每年约有30,000个大脑动脉瘤破裂。
而脑动脉瘤的诊断might feel overwhelming, UTHealth Neurosciences has recognized experts in this condition who will guide you through every step of treatment. Our medical team takes great pride in its high success rates and will prioritize your care.
About the video: View this presentation of the signs, symptoms, risk factors and treatment options for brain aneurysms from UTHealth Neurosciences.
大脑动脉瘤的原因
People can be born with a weak spot in an artery in their brains. Over time, the pounding of blood in the weak spot can expand into a sac that measures at least 50 percent of the blood vessel’s normal diameter. Researchers have identified genetic factors to help identify people at greatest risk of developing aneurysms. Patients with family members who have suffered aneurysms are at a higher risk, according to some studies.
High-blood pressure, hardening of the arteries, drug use, and cigarette smoking are considered risk factors for brain aneurysms. Injury and infection also increase risk. Brain aneurysms are more common in older adults and females.
大脑动脉瘤的早期迹象
小动脉瘤不太可能引起症状。随着动脉瘤的扩展，患者可能会在眼睛上方和眼睛后面经历疼痛，瞳孔扩张，视力变化或脸部的麻木。超过10毫米的动脉瘤的破裂风险增加。
A sudden, severe headache is the main symptom of a ruptured aneurysm. Other symptoms might include nausea, vomiting, loss of consciousness, facial pain, weakness, paralysis, and seizure. Drooping eyelids, confusion and visual irregularities, such as double or blurred vision, might also be noticed.
Every effort is made to diagnose and treat brain aneurysms before they bleed. A hemorrhage, or bleeding from a ruptured aneurysm, is a medical emergency that requires immediate medical attention.
诊断大脑动脉瘤
Brain aneurysms are often discovered after rupture or during diagnostic exams, including CT scans and MRIs, requested for other medical conditions. UTHealth Neurosciences uses advanced imaging tools to map the structure of the brain. Your neurological team may conduct an angiogram, where a doctor will inject dye into a blood vessel and take X-rays to identify aneurysms.
Treatment
Treatment options vary based on several factors, including the size and location of the aneurysm. The goal will be to decrease the risk of hemorrhage or repeated bleeding.
并非所有脑动脉瘤都需要治疗。您的Uthealth Neurosciences医疗团队可能会决定密切监测不出现症状的小动脉瘤。未破裂和未破裂的动脉瘤可能需要手术治疗才能剪辑或填补异常。
尖端成像技术可用于绘制动脉瘤。然后，高技能的医生可以确定可能包括切除，凝块检索，血管成形术，支架，栓塞，栓塞或放射外科手术的方法。
With microvascular clipping, a surgeon will place a small piece of metal on the aneurysm to stop its blood supply. Using a less-invasive procedure, called coil embolization, a surgeon can insert a catheter into an artery in the groin and release coils, glue or mesh that will block the aneurysm, reducing the flow of blood to it.
What You Can Expect at UTHealth Neurosciences
在Uthealth Neurosciences，脑血管专家团队将共同确定每个患者的最佳治疗计划。在每个领域都有备受推崇的专家，这种方法的目标是帮助节省我们的患者时间和金钱。最重要的是，合作可以导致更好的治疗计划和结果。当需要手术时，我们的神经外科医生通常使用创新的微创技术。
Throughout the treatment process, our team works closely with the doctor who referred you to ensure a smooth transition back to your regular care plan. While you are with us, you can expect top-notch care, excellent communication, and genuine compassion.
FAQ: Answers to common questions about cerebral aneurysm
What is a Brain Aneurysm?
大脑动脉瘤（或脑动脉瘤）是在大脑弱动脉壁上发育的隆起。它充满了血液，可以随着时间的流逝而生长。脑动脉瘤通常不会引起症状，并且在测试其他疾病期间被检测到。动脉瘤破裂或流血并不常见，但是如果确实如此，那可能是医疗紧急情况。每年约有30,000名美国人遭受动脉瘤破裂。发生这种情况时，患者可能会出现突然，严重的头痛，以及恶心，呕吐和视力模糊。
An aneurysm that is large but hasn’t ruptured may put pressure on tissue or nerves, causing pain, numbness, weakness, or vision changes.
An aneurysm typically forms at the bifurcation, or split, as an artery branches off. The most common type is a saccular aneurysm, which is a round sac attached to a main artery or one of its branches often along the base of the skull.
An aneurysm sounds scary. Is it an emergency?
大多数大脑动脉瘤的出血风险相对较低，有些根本不需要治疗。不过，诊断后，应该通过脑血管神经外科医生看到您。如果在被诊断出患有动脉瘤后，您会遇到严重的头痛，请立即寻求紧急医疗服务。流血会导致脑损伤甚至死亡。
What is the risk of my aneurysm bleeding?
The risk of an aneurysm bleeding predominantly depends on two main factors – the size and location. The shape and wall thickness also contribute to the chance of rupture. Depending on these factors, we can give you an estimate of the risk of bleeding. Whether the patient is a smoker or suffers hypertension also can impact the risk.
大脑动脉瘤的治疗方法是什么？
Some aneurysms with an extremely low risk of bleeding may not need treatment at all. You will be monitored to make sure the aneurysm doesn’t grow. Surgery has long been the primary form of aneurysm treatment and requires a cerebrovascular surgeon to place a clip on the aneurysm.
The other treatment is endovascular. Technology has improved over the last 20 years to allow devices to navigate through the blood vessels to treat aneurysms. Physicians trained in Endovascular Neurological Surgery can treat aneurysms through the artery in the leg.
脑动脉瘤的手术涉及什么？
大脑动脉瘤的手术需要在头皮上切开，这使我们能够绕过大脑，因为具有动脉瘤的血管位于表面。找到动脉瘤后，我们可以放置一个夹子，以便在动脉瘤中没有血液。这种治疗通常是耐用且有效的。
是一种血管内手术如何不同呢?
It does not require an incision on the scalp or brain. The access is through the femoral artery in the groin. Through this artery, surgeons can go up to the brain using small catheters and treat the aneurysm in the blood vessel.
The most common endovascular treatment is coil embolization. The sack of the aneurysm is filled with small metal coils that prevent blood from circulating in the aneurysm.
在动脉瘤盘绕之前，可以在分支点看到一个动脉瘤，称为前交通动脉瘤。
After coiling, the aneurysm doesn’t fill with blood anymore. If you look closely, you can see coils in the aneurysm sack where the aneurysm previously filled. This case was a complex aneurysm and required a stent combined with coils.
还有其他血管内治疗，例如流动转移和周内装置呢？
治疗脑动脉瘤的技术继续前进，这些新设备被批准用于动脉瘤治疗。动脉瘤的最佳治疗方法取决于其位置和解剖结构，并且将考虑所有选择。
Cerebrovascular and Stroke Care
Contact Us
At UTHealth Neurosciences, we offer patients access to specialized neurological care at clinics across the greater Houston area. To ask us a question, schedule an appointment, or learn more about us, please call (713) 486-8000, or click below to send us a message. In the event of an emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest Emergency Room.