A 29-year-old woman arrived at the ER complaining of the worst headache of her life, accompanied by nausea. Upon arrival, she had elevated blood pressure. An immediate CT scan revealed a subarachnoid hemorrhage. Subsequently, she was admitted to the ICU, and an urgent CT angiography identified an aneurysm in the left supraglenoid internal carotid artery (ICA).
The patient was informed that the aneurysm needed to be secured promptly to avoid the high risk of rebleeding, particularly within the first 24 hours, which could be fatal.
The options for securing the aneurysm—clipping versus coiling—were thoroughly discussed with her, detailing the pros and cons of each.
After careful consideration, she chose the coiling option due to its less invasive nature. The procedure was arranged immediately, and she underwent the coiling on the same day.
Following the procedure, she experienced headaches and elevated blood pressure, which were managed with medication. She made a smooth recovery and was discharged on the fifth-day post-procedure.
About 1 in 50 people have an unruptured brain aneurysm, often without any symptoms. However, ruptured brain aneurysms are fatal in about 40% of cases, highlighting the importance of awareness and early detection.
Women are more prone to brain aneurysms, with the condition being more common in females than males. In fact, women over the age of 50 are at higher risk of aneurysm rupture compared to their male counterparts.
Symptoms of a ruptured brain aneurysm can include a sudden, extremely severe headache (often described as the worst headache ever experienced), nausea, and vision impairment. Immediate medical attention is crucial if these symptoms occur.