Cerebral Aneurysm
Cerebral Aneurysm
 A cerebral aneurysm is the dilation, bulging or ballooning out of part of the wall of a vein or artery in the brain. The disorder may result from congenital defects or from other conditions such as high blood pressure, atherosclerosis (the build-up of fatty deposits in the arteries), or head trauma. Cerebral aneurysms can occur at any age, although they are more common in adults than in children and are slightly more common in women than in men. The signs and symptoms of an unruptured cerebral aneurysm will partly depend on its size and rate of growth. For example, a small, unchanging aneurysm will generally produce no symptoms, whereas a larger aneurysm that is steadily growing may produce symptoms such as loss of feeling in the face or problems with the eyes. Immediately before an aneurysm ruptures, an individual may experience such symptoms as a sudden and usually severe headache, nausea, vision impairment, vomiting, and loss of consciousness. Rupture of a cerebral aneurysm usually results in bleeding in the brain, causing a hemhorrhagic stroke. Or blood can leak into the area surrounding the brain and develop into an intracranial hematoma (a blood clot within the skull). Rebleeding, hydrocephalus (the excessive accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid), vasospasm (spasm of the blood vessels), or additional aneurysms may also occur.
 Treatment
Emergency treatment for individuals with a ruptured cerebral aneurysm generally includes restoring deteriorating respiration and reducing intracranial pressure. Surgery is usually performed within the first 3 days to clip the ruptured aneurysm and to reduce the risk of rebleeding. When aneurysms are discovered before rupture occurs, microcoil thrombosis (see illustration) or balloon embolization may be performed on patients for whom surgery is considered too risky. During these procedures, a thin, hollow tube (catheter) is inserted through an artery to travel up to the brain. Once the catheter reaches the aneurysm, tiny balloons or coils are used to block blood flow through the aneurysm. Other treatments may include bed rest, drug therapy, or hypertensive-hypervolemic therapy (which elevates blood pressure, increases blood volume, and thins the blood) to drive blood flow through and around blocked arteries and control vasospasm.
Prognosis
The prognosis for a patient with a ruptured cerebral aneurysm depends on the extent and location of the aneurysm, the personis age, general health, and neurological condition. Some individuals with a ruptured cerebral aneurysm die from the initial bleeding. Other individuals with cerebral aneurysm recover with little or no neurological deficit. Early diagnosis and treatment are important.
Source: National Institute for Neurological Disorders and Stroke
Reviewed: March 2003
Medical Illustrations & Medical Animations Copyright © 2010 Nucleus Medical Art. All Rights Reserved. |
|
|
|
 |
|
| What attorneys say about MLA and The Doe Report: |
"The Doe Report's Do-It-Yourself Exhibits program enables easy customization of complex medical exhibits at a reasonable expense and in a timely manner. ...custom medical exhibits are no longer an unthinkable luxury, but a routine necessity."
Jack S. Cohen
Levy, Angstreich, Finney, Baldante & Coren
Philadelphia, PA |
"We are very pleased with a verdict exceeding $297,000.00, far in excess of the $20,000.00 initially offered by the defendant. The medical demonstrative evidence provided by [MLA] was an asset we could not have afforded to have been without."
Todd J. Kenyon, Esq.
Minneapolis, MN |
"Our firm has achieved multiple eight figure settlements and verdicts over the past ten years. Medical Legal Art has been there with us on every case."
Thomas C. Jones
Davis, Bethune & Jones, L.L.C.
Kansas City, MO |
"It is with great enthusiasm that I recommend Medical Legal Art. One medical malpractice case... settled for 3.75 million and the other... settled for 6.9 million. We consider the artwork provided by MLA to have been invaluable in helping us to successfully conclude these cases."
E. Marcus Davis, Esq.
Davis Zipperman, Krischenbaum & Lotito
Atlanta, GA |
"MLA's graphics bring the defense to the table sooner and with more money."
Mark Clayton Choate
Choate, Guinn & Springmeyer
Maui, HI |
"Our trial resulted in a $16 million verdict for my client, and the medical illustrations definitely played a key role in the trial."
David Cutt
Brayton Purcell
Salt Lake City, UT |
"I would not want to try a case without them."
Lambros Y. Lambrou
McHUGH & LAMBROU, LLP
New York, NY |
"...after we sent a copy of your illustration to the defendants, with a copy to the insurance company, they increased their offer by an additional million dollars and the case was settled for $1,900,000.00. I appreciate your help!"
O. Fayrell Furr, Jr.
Furr, Henshaw & Ohanesian
Myrtle Beach, SC |
"The jury returned a verdict for $800,000.00 and I'm sure we would not have done so well if not for the visualizations we were able to put forth with your assistance."
Daniel J. Costello
Proner & Proner
New York, NY |
"The speed and cost-effectiveness of [The Doe Report] made it the perfect tool for our purposes. We will use The Doe Report again in future cases."
Andrew Needle
Needle Gallagher & Ellenberg, P.A.
Miami, FL |
"Every case can benefit from their excellent work and we unqualifiedly recommend their services. They are the best!"
Chris Otorowski
Morrow and Otorowski
Bainbridge Island, WA |
"My clients have won over $60 million in jury verdicts and I can't recall a case which did not include one of your medical exhibits. Keep up the great work!"
Kenneth J. Allen
Allen Law Firm
Valparaiso, IN |
"For $400, less than one blow-up by one of The Doe Report's competitors, I got four first-rate exhibits in less than a day."
Tracy Kenyon Lischer
Pulley Watson King & Lischer
Durham, NC |
|
|
|
