How do aneurysms work

The coils used in this procedure are made of soft platinum metal, and are shaped like a spring. These coils are very small and thin, ranging in size from about twice the width of a human hair largest to less than one hair's width smallest.

Fluoroscopy a special type of x-ray, similar to an x-ray "movie" aids in this procedure. The catheter, which is inserted into an artery in the groin, is guided by a small wire inside of the catheter along the length of the blood vessel to reach the area of the aneurysm.

The physician uses fluoroscopy to guide the catheter to the aneurysm's location in the brain. After surgery, a patient might expect to return home after spending one night in the Neuro Intensive Care Unit, and may expect to return to normal activities within 2 days. Your physician will provide specific details regarding your post-surgical care prior to your discharge from the hospital.

A coiling procedure may be performed to treat an unruptured brain aneurysm. Coiling may be used to treat a ruptured brain aneurysm in some cases, as well as for patients who are older or who cannot undergo surgery. There may be other reasons for your physician to recommend a coiling procedure.

Johns Hopkins is one of the few hospitals in the country that treats about aneurysm cases a year. We have published our aneurysm treatment results, which rank among the best in the world. In addition, our NCCU is one of the few units in the country entirely devoted to neurosurgical and neurological problems. Learn more about our team.

To request an appointment or refer a patient, please contact the Johns Hopkins Aneurysm Center at Request an Appointment. Request your next appointment through My Chart! Cerebral aneurysm occurs in an artery of the brain.

Popliteal artery aneurysm occurs in the artery behind the knee. Mesenteric artery aneurysm occurs in the artery that supplies blood to the intestine. Splenic artery aneurysm occurs in an artery of the spleen. Symptoms and diagnosis Aneurysms can develop over many years and often have no symptoms.

Depending on the site of the aneurysm, symptoms can include: Headache Pain in abdomen or back Pulsating abdominal mass Blue coloration cyanosis of lower extremities Dizziness Vision changes Confusion Fatigue Hoarseness Difficulty swallowing High-pitched breathing sound Swelling in the neck Chest or upper back pain Nausea and vomiting Sense of impending doom Shock low blood pressure, rapid heart rate, clammy skin, decreased awareness Your doctor can use an angiogram , CT scan or ultrasound test to diagnose an aneurysm.

Treatment and prevention An aneurysm can become a medical emergency. Lower your risk To lower your risks for an aneurysm, maintain a healthy lifestyle throughout your life. Some steps include: Controlling high blood pressure Eating healthy foods Getting regular physical activity Quitting smoking or using tobacco in any form.

Last Reviewed: Jan 22, The number of aneurysms that actually rupture is much smaller. Only around 1 in 12, people have a ruptured brain aneurysm in England each year. Brain aneurysms can develop in anyone at any age, but are more common in people over the age of The best way to prevent getting an aneurysm, or reduce the risk of an aneurysm growing bigger and possibly rupturing, is to avoid activities that could damage your blood vessels.

Find out more about preventing aneurysms. Page last reviewed: 16 August Next review due: 16 August Aneurysms can develop in any blood vessel in the body, but the 2 most common places are: the artery that transports blood away from the heart to the rest of the body the abdominal aorta the brain This topic is about brain aneurysms.

About brain aneurysms The medical term for an aneurysm that develops inside the brain is an intracranial or cerebral aneurysm. Symptoms include: a sudden agonising headache — it's been described as a "thunderclap headache", similar to a sudden hit on the head, resulting in a blinding pain unlike anything experienced before a stiff neck sickness and vomiting pain on looking at light About 3 in 5 people who have a subarachnoid haemorrhage die within 2 weeks.

Find out more about the symptoms of a brain aneurysm A ruptured brain aneurysm is a medical emergency. How brain aneurysms are treated If a brain aneurysm is detected before it ruptures, treatment may be recommended to prevent it rupturing in future.

Why brain aneurysms develop Exactly what causes the wall of affected blood vessels to weaken is still unclear, although risk factors have been identified.

These include: smoking high blood pressure a family history of brain aneurysms In some cases, an aneurysm may develop because there was a weakness in the walls of the blood vessels at birth.