A Team based approach to Noninvasive vascular Neurosurgery.

A brain aneurysm (also called a cerebral aneurysm or an intracranial aneurysm) is a ballooning arising from a weakened area in the wall of a blood vessel in the brain. If the brain aneurysm expands and the blood vessel wall becomes too thin, the aneurysm will rupture and bleed into the space around the brain. The bleeding caused by a brain aneurysm is called subarachnoid hemmorhage.  A ruptured aneurysm quickly becomes life-threatening and requires medical treatment right away. If a brain aneurysm hasn't ruptured, treatment may be appropriate in some cases. Treatment of an unruptured brain aneurysm may prevent a rupture in the future. 

Most brain aneurysms that haven't ruptured don't cause symptoms. This is especially true if they're small. Brain aneurysms may be found during imaging tests that are done for other conditions. However, a ruptured aneurysm is a very serious condition, typically causing a severe headache. If an un-ruptured aneurysm presses against brain tissue or nerves, it may cause pain and other symptoms such as issues with the eyes. 

A sudden, severe headache is the key symptom of a ruptured aneurysm. This headache is often described by people as the worst headache they've ever experienced.

In addition to a severe headache, symptoms of a ruptured aneurysm can include:

• Nausea and vomiting
• Stiff neck
• Blurred or double vision
• Sensitivity to light
• Seizure
• A drooping eyelid
• Loss of consciousness
• Confusion symptoms of aneurysm brain brain aneurysm treatment Lagos Port Harcourt Abuja

• Female gender
• Old age
• Smoking
• High blood pressure
• Drug abuse(Cocaine)
• Heavy alcohol consumption
• Family history of aneurysms(first degree relatives)
• Selected medical conditions such as Polycystic kidney disease and fibromuscular dysplasia

- NON-RUPTURED ANEURYSMS: Some aneurysms may be found incidentally when getting medical tests for something else and when found may or may not need treatment based on certain size criteria and risk factors.

- RUPTURED ANEURYSMS: When aneurysms rupture or leak blood into the brain, they need to be treated as soon as possible. Methods of treatment can be surgical clipping requiring major surgery. However in the developed world, treatment of most cerebral aneurysms have moved to cutting edge non surgical endo-vascular treatment called ENDOVASCULAR COILING. This involves placing a tiny pin-size hole in the wrist or groin and navigating into the vessels in the brain with tiny wires and catheters while being guided by an xray image. Endovascular treatment has been shown to significant improve survival of patients and decrease the complications associated with surgery. 

An ischemic stroke occurs when the blood supply to part of the brain is blocked or reduced. This prevents brain tissue from getting oxygen and nutrients. Brain cells begin to die in minutes. 

• Sudden trouble speaking or understanding what others are saying. 
• Paralysis and numbness of the face, arm, leg on one side of the body. 
• Problems seeing in one or both eyes, 
• Trouble walking and a loss of balance. 

Present to a stroke center as early as possible as Brain is time. Brain cells die with every minute that passes. The only chance of saving brain cells is when you get to the hospital before brain cells completely die. Those who present within the 1st hour of noticing symptoms have a much better chance of survival and restoring function. 

Once confirmed that you are having an ischemic stroke, the most critical thing is to determine how to restore blood flow to your brain. As in these first few hours, if blood flow is restored, we can provide the oxygen and nutrients your brain cells need to survive and avoid permanent disability or death. 

To do this, doctors may use a strong clot buster medicine injected through an IV line and dissolving the clot that is obstructing blood flow. Doctors may also perform a procedure called mechanical thrombectomy. This is an emergency endovascular procedure that involves advancing a tiny plastic tube called a catheter up into the brain arteries allowing the blockage in the artery to be removed directly. 

Remember every minute counts as once brain cells die, restoring blood flow doesn’t matter any longer. Most people that can have an intervention get to the hospital within an hour of noticing symptoms 

Every stroke is different so every person’s road to recovery is different.

Management of a stroke often involves a care team with multiple specialists. This may include a Neurologist, an intensive care physician, an interventional radiologist, a rehabilitation specialist amongst others. In the end, the goal is to help you recover fully or  as much function as possible so that you can live independently. 

A stroke is a life changing event that can affect you emotionally as well as physically. Recovery will take hard work and most of all; time. 

Most importantly, present early as it gives you the best chance of a full recovery as Brain is time.