If you’ve survived a ruptured brain aneurysm, as soon as you can think clearly, you will no doubt have questions. If you have a loved one who survived a ruptured brain aneurysm but is suffering severe after-effects, you may have questions you want answered on their behalf. Of course, you should ask your doctor (or loved one’s physician), but advice from a reputable personal injury attorney who has vast experience with aneurysm cases will provide you another perspective to consider.

We’ve worked up a list of the four most common questions asked after a ruptured brain aneurysm:

1. How long until I get better?

Recovery time largely depends on how large the aneurysm was, how quickly it was treated and the method of treatment. If you (or your loved one) had to have the aneurysm treated by clipping, that means there was a craniotomy. A craniotomy is when the skull is opened up. With this procedure there is a greater risk of infection and complications so a longer hospital stay will be required.

If the aneurysm rupture was caught early, the recovery time will be faster. When endovascular coiling is the method of treatment, hospital time can be cut down to a few days rather than weeks. From there, the recovery from the immediate risks and complications should take no more than a few weeks, but there are longer term implications that will take longer to heal (if they ever do).

2. Are the after-effects reversible?

Because the brain bleed that results from a ruptured brain aneurysm is essentially a stroke, the degree of the after-effects will depend on the extent of the bleed, where in your brain it occurred and the time span between rupture and treatment. Some of the things that may be reversible are weakness in limbs, headaches, speech disruptions and others. Physical and speech therapy may help recover some of what was lost.

But if there was brain tissue death as a result of the rupture, this damage is not reversible and whatever mental or physical skills were lost cannot be recovered. The brain does not regrow dead tissue. After a brain aneurysm rupture, neurological damage will likely be permanent. It’s important for the survivor that therapy follows treatment to recover what can be rebuilt and to assess what life changes may be needed to accommodate what won’t change.

3. Will it happen again?

Once you’ve survived a ruptured brain aneurysm, the likelihood that it will rupture again is a real risk. The first two weeks after the rupture is the initial window of risk and one-third of patients run a chance of rebleed and there is a 70% chance of death for those who have a rebleed. Even without a rebleed, one-fourth of those who survive a brain aneurysm rupture will die within six months of other complications.

One-third of those who experience one ruptured brain aneurysm have a chance of developing another aneurysm that can rupture. The real answer to “will it happen again” is “maybe.” But once you’ve had a brain aneurysm rupture, the risks of recurrence may be secondary to dealing with the after-effects of the first rupture.

4. Why did this happen to me?

In some cases, there’s a genetic link to brain aneurysms that rupture. Other causes may relate to illnesses that can make you more prone to developing brain aneurysms that rupture. Drinking, smoking and illegal drug abuse, particularly cocaine, can greatly increase the risk of ruptured aneurysms. Some of those are under your control and some are not.

Another important contributing factor is whether or not you were provided timely and adequate medical care. If you sought medical care for symptoms and were misdiagnosed, denied testing, or experienced delays in treatment (or if this happened to your loved one) what happened could have been made much worse.

What now?

If treatment was delayed, denied or administered improperly, medical malpractice could be a factor in your outcome (or that of your loved one). You deserve answers about your brain aneurysm rupture – or about what happened to your loved one – and we may be able to help. As a reputable personal injury attorney with years of brain aneurysm case experience, Rob Kornfeld knows how to get the answers you need.

Because brain damage caused by a ruptured brain aneurysm is not reversible, survivors may require daily help just to live their lives. Physical and speech therapy can be costly. Most who survive an aneurysm cannot return to their jobs and may not be able to work at all. If proper medical care could have changed this outcome, you may be due compensation. And a fair settlement can help you cope with the cost of ongoing medical care, limited work opportunities and loss of quality of life.

Mr. Kornfeld is prepared to help you recover a fair settlement. Take a look at Rob’s “success stories” to see clients who were fortunate enough to receive million dollar settlements, including medical negligence clients who were injured due to a failure to timely diagnose a brain aneurysm. Rob is ready to help you today. Call now for a free consultation and to have your case evaluated.

An unruptured brain aneurysm with symptoms can often be diagnosed and treated before rupture or other serious complications result. But when an aneurysm ruptures, it is an urgent medical crisis. The longer the time between when an aneurysm ruptures and when it is treated, the greater the risk of fatality, brain damage and complications.

Ruptured brain aneurysms always require medical intervention. The hallmark symptom that often alerts you that you have a ruptured or leaking brain aneurysm is a “thunderclap” headache – this is a headache worse than any of your life – far worse than even a migraine.

What Are the Immediate Complications After a Brain Aneurysm Ruptures?

When a brain aneurysm ruptures, it releases blood into the brain. This is called a subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) and is essentially a stroke. Most of the time, after an initial rupture, the bleeding stops, but that’s when the real complications begin.

The most immediate and serious complication following SAH is death. 40%-50% of patients will die within 24 hours of brain aneurysm rupture. 15% of these fatalities occur before the sufferer makes it to the hospital. In some cases, these are people that sought medical treatment, but had symptoms dismissed or ignored.

The next most serious complication is a rebleed within 24-48 hours after initial rupture. This is the leading cause of death in those who survive the initial SAH. Hydrocephalus is a post-SAH complication where excess cerebrospinal fluid builds up in the skull and causes ventricles to swell and put pressure on brain tissue and cause brain and neurological damage. 20% to 70% will have this complication within one to three days after surviving SAH and it often causes coma.

Hyponatremia, another complication, occurs most often in SAH victims older than 50 and is a disruption of sodium and electrolytes in the body. This occurs in one-third of patients and can cause seizure, coma, brain damage and death if not appropriately diagnosed and treated.

What Are Some of the Short Term Complications Within the Weeks Following Rupture?

Roughly 30% of patients will suffer a rebleed after the initial rupture. This is most likely within the first two weeks after SAH and results in fatality for 70% of those who rebleed. Hydrocephalus can also occur anytime from right after the SAH up to 10 days or more afterward. The longer the time between SAH and onset of hydrocephalus, the less severe it will be but left untreated, can cause coma or permanent damage.

Cerebral vasospasm is another serious complication that results from a ruptured brain aneurysm. Vasospasm is acute narrowing and spasms of blood vessels in the brain, starving brain tissues of oxygen. Vasospasm occurs in 40%-70% of those who survive their initial rupture. The greatest risk of vasospasm is at 3-4 days following rupture and then again 7-10 days after rupture. Close to 20% of those who suffer vasospasm will either die or suffer permanent brain damage or disability.

Another complication is cerebral infarction (stroke) which can be fatal or cause brain damage. This is a different kind of stroke than that caused by SAH. Seizures may also occur following SAH in up to 90% of patients. If seizures will be an ongoing issue, they will usually crop up within 18 months after the rupture.

What Are the Longer Term Complications of a Ruptured Brain Aneurysm?

25% of those who suffer a ruptured brain aneurysm that survive the initial incident will die within six months as a result of complications. And nearly 50% of those who survive the rupture of their brain aneurysm will have some type of permanent disability.

Here is a roster of long-term impairments that survivors of brain aneurysm rupture may suffer:

• Verbal memory loss – up to 60% will lose their recall of some or many words
• Visual memory loss – up to 50% will not be able to remember what things look like
• Short and long term memory loss – up to 60% will have disruption in short or long term memory formation and recall
• Executive function loss – up to 76% will have impaired problem solving or decision making skills or a loss of inhibition or attention span
• Language impairment – up to 75% will have speaking impairments (this refers to physical difficulties in speaking and forming words)
• Self-care limitations – 12% or more will struggle to feed, dress, groom, bathe or use the toilet
• Daily living limitations – up to 93% will have difficulty with driving, managing finances, shopping and housekeeping tasks
• Work limitations – up to 94% are unable to return to their previous job and those that do return cannot assume the same responsibilities or work as many hours
• Quality of life – more than 90% reported diminished quality of life
• Depression – more than 50% will suffer ongoing depression after recovery
• Anxiety – up to 54% will suffer chronic anxiety
• Sleep disorders and fatigue – up to 45% will have disrupted sleep patterns and/or chronic fatigue or insomnia that are persistent throughout their life
• PTSD – up to 37% of survivors suffer symptoms consistent with post-traumatic stress disorder

What Can Minimize Complications of Ruptured Brain Aneurysms?

Prompt diagnosis and urgent treatment of a ruptured aneurysm are critical to saving your life and avoiding serious long-term complications. Unfortunately, in some cases, physicians fail to accurately diagnose the brain aneurysm and treatment is delayed. Patients may die or suffer serious brain and neurological damage that can leave them impaired for life if prompt and accurate diagnosis and medical care are not offered.

Brain damage from SAH is tissue death. Once brain tissue dies, there is no way for it to recover or heal. The effects are permanent! If you or a loved one has been left with brain or neurological damage after a ruptured brain aneurysm, you may need lifelong care to meet basic needs. In some cases, this outcome (or loss of life) could have been avoided if better medical care had been provided.

If you or a loved one that suffered SAH wonder if there were errors made in diagnosis or treatment, you need the help of a reputable personal injury attorney. If mistakes were made, this may be a case of medical malpractice. If you want to find out if something went wrong, contact Rob Kornfeld. He has over 30 years’ experience in personal injury law and he represents clients who have suffered injuries caused by a leaking or ruptured brain aneurysm due to the failure to timely diagnose and treat the aneurysm.

Rob has recovered major settlements for brain aneurysm clients who have suffered head injuries caused by delay in diagnosis or treatment. Rob is ready to put his extensive experience to work to help you. Call for a free consultation today.

Many factors will determine the prognosis of a brain aneurysm. Some factors relate to the patient including: age at the time rupture occurs, general health prior to rupture, genetic factors, behavioral risk factors and underlying medical or neurological conditions. Some factors relate to the aneurysm itself including: location of the aneurysm and extent of bleeding when it ruptures.

Finally, factors such as how rapidly and accurately the rupture is diagnosed and treatment is delivered will also impact prognosis. Together, all of these determine patient outcome after a ruptured brain aneurysm and few of them are under the patient’s control.

What Prognosis Factors Are Under Your Control?

Of the personal factors mentioned above, age, genetic risks and medical and neurological conditions are generally not things you can control. But there are some behavioral risks that you can control. Smoking, drinking and drug abuse – particularly cocaine – are all activities that can adversely affect prognosis of a ruptured brain aneurysm.

Most people have no idea they have a brain aneurysm, but for those who have a family history of rupturing aneurysms, they should take control of this risk factor. Learning the signs and symptoms of leaking and ruptured brain aneurysms so you know when to seek medical attention can improve your prognosis should the unthinkable happen.

How Do Brain Aneurysm Characteristics Affect Prognosis?

This is one of the factors in prognosis that is definitely not under your control. Where in your brain the ruptured aneurysm is located and the extent of bleeding will contribute to the risk of fatality and brain damage. Aneurysms located at the back of the brain are more likely to rupture and likelier to rupture at a smaller size.

Larger aneurysms will bleed more when they hemorrhage making the prognosis worse. The bigger the bleed, the greater the risk for brain damage or death. Of the three types of aneurysms, saccular, fusiform and dissecting, dissecting are the most dangerous and carry a fatality risk of roughly 80%.

What Other Important Factors Can Help or Hinder Prognosis?

Two other critical factors that determine outcome for a ruptured brain aneurysm are diagnosis and treatment. These can literally mean the difference between life and death. And for those that survive a brain aneurysm rupture, proper diagnosis and treatment can mean the difference between normal functioning and severe brain damage in the aftermath.

Proper diagnosis is one of the most important factors in a positive outcome after a brain aneurysm ruptures. When you come into the emergency room or doctor’s office complaining of symptoms consistent with a rupturing brain aneurysm, your doctor must rapidly and properly diagnose you to ensure the best result.

But when symptoms are mistaken for other ailments (most often tension or migraine headaches), further diagnostic testing is not performed or test results are misinterpreted, timely treatment will not occur or will be delayed.

Roughly 25% of patients suffering a subarachnoid hemorrhage from a brain aneurysm will be misdiagnosed. 12% of those experiencing SAH are not given a CT scan – the primary diagnostic test for a ruptured aneurysm. This indicates that a percentage of those misdiagnosed have a CT scan done, but the results are misread or inconclusive and further testing is not performed.

What Aspects of Treatment Can Hinder a Positive Prognosis After an Aneurysm Ruptures?

The main issue with treatment of a brain aneurysm that can lead to a poor prognosis is delay. When a brain aneurysm ruptures, blood begins to leak into the tissues surrounding the brain. This puts pressure onto the brain tissue and can cause tissue death. Tissue death equals brain damage. Once an area of the brain has been damaged, there is no recovery.

The time lapse between when a hemorrhage in the brain begins and when treatment to stem the bleed occurs is critical. There are different situations that can lead to a delay in treatment, most notable being failure to diagnose the SAH in a timely manner. Other delays can be caused by a lack of a qualified surgeon on hand to complete the procedure or inadequate tools or facilities.

Other aspects of treatment that can hinder a good outcome include error while administering treatment or during the recovery process. Surgical or anesthetic errors can occur during the procedure itself. Complications can also arise if medications are administered during surgery that cause allergic reactions because a history wasn’t taken or wasn’t reviewed prior to treatment.

During the recovery process and up to two weeks following surgical treatment of a ruptured aneurysm, the risk of rebleed is high. Vasospasm (the constriction and shut down of an artery) is a common risk after treatment that can be fatal. Drug therapy, administered properly, can mitigate this risk. Follow up scans and proper monitoring are also necessary for a positive outcome.

Urgency of Diagnosis and Treatment Are the Best Hope for a Good Outcome

If you or a loved one suffered a ruptured cerebral aneurysm that left you with cognitive or neurological impairment or if you lost a loved one to a brain aneurysm, you may wonder if this outcome was avoidable. A thorough review of medical records and the circumstances leading up to diagnosis (or misdiagnosis) must be done. This is not something that the layman will be able to do on their own.

Two-thirds of survivors will have some form of brain damage or disability that is not reversible. When the incapacitation is significant, not only may the survivor not be able to work, but they may need daily caregiving for the rest of their life. If errors were made, pursuing a medical malpractice claim may help offset some of your expenses that may result from fatality or permanent incapacitation.

If you have questions about how your ruptured brain aneurysm was diagnosed and treated, you need the help of a reputable attorney with extensive experience investigating brain aneurysm cases. Rob Kornfeld has recovered multi-million dollar settlements for some of his brain aneurysm clients and is ready to put his 30 years’ experience to work helping you. Call today for a free consultation.

But when a brain aneurysm ruptures, fatalities are common and for survivors, the risk of permanent brain damage and neurological impairment is high. Once a rupture or subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) occurs, 15% of sufferers will die before they can get to the hospital. But for those who make it to the hospital alive, the best outcomes are for those who are promptly diagnosed and treated.

What Are the Treatment Options for a Ruptured Brain Aneurysm?

Many factors will determine the course of treatment for a ruptured aneurysm including age of the patient, overall health, medical risk factors and size, location and shape of the rupture. Unfortunately, other factors that also determine treatment are the available facilities, skill of medical professionals, which specialists are available at the time of treatment and the experience of the doctors involved.

Top tier hospitals like Johns Hopkins have extensive experience treating ruptured aneurysms and have pioneered groundbreaking treatments for aneurysms such as open microsurgery on previously treated aneurysms. Depending on the hospital where you were treated, expertise and experience with ruptured brain aneurysms will vary – as will outcomes.

There are two main treatments for ruptured brain aneurysms: microsurgical clipping and endovascular coiling. A more rare and complex treatment is artery occlusion and bypass which is used when standard methods fail to close the aneurysm.

What Is Microsurgical Clipping?

This technique was first used to treat brain aneurysms in 1937 at Johns Hopkins and has become the most common treatment of brain aneurysms. An incision is made in the skull and microsurgical tools are used to place a small metal clip at the base of the aneurysm to cut off blood flow – rather like a clothespin on the neck of a water filled balloon. The tiny clip is left inside the brain to permanently obstruct blood flow to the aneurysm.

The earlier after onset of hemorrhage the clipping occurs, the lower the chance of rebleed. A recent SAH trial showed that for those treated with microsurgical clipping, 30.6% of patients were either dead or disabled after one year.

One of the main complications after surgery for a ruptured brain aneurysm is vasospasm (extreme narrowing of vessels) which can lead to terminal stroke. Calcium channel blocking drugs help reduce risk after clipping surgery. The younger the patient is, the higher the risk is of vasospasm complications after clipping of a ruptured brain aneurysm.

What Is Endovascular Coiling?

Similar to clipping, the intent of endovascular coiling is to block blood flow to the aneurysm. This is a newer treatment that has been in use since 1991. It is often preferred because it is less invasive than clipping and has better outcomes. A catheter is threaded through an artery from the groin up into the brain to the site of the ruptured aneurysm.

Platinum coils are then released into the aneurysm through a second catheter to cause clotting. The coil is left in place and the clotting is intended to seal off the aneurysm from the blood supply. More than one coil may be inserted depending on the size of the aneurysm.

In one study on coiling treatment for ruptured aneurysms, rebleeds were relatively rare – less than 2% – but mortality was near 100% for these occurrences. Blood thinners are usually administered for three months following surgery to diminish the risk of rebleed.

The same SAH trial mentioned above that showed 30.6% death or dependence one year after clipping showed a better prognosis for endovascular coiling with a 23.7% risk of death or dependence at the one year interval.

How Much Does Treatment for a Ruptured Brain Aneurysm Cost?

If you have medical insurance coverage, the out of pocket costs to you may not be significant. However, if there is a dollar limit on your annual benefit or you have a significant deductible or co-insurance percentage, you may have to pay a few thousand dollars toward your medical care for the ruptured aneurysm.

But for those who have no health coverage, the total bill can come to $300,000 or more. In either case, there are also other concerns when it comes to finances and brain aneurysms. The time off work to treat and recover from surgery can be days, weeks or months.

More than one-third of survivors have neural defects and/or brain damage following a ruptured aneurysm that can prevent them from working at capacity (or at all) for the rest of their lives. Brain damage from a ruptured aneurysm is not reversible or treatable. 25% of survivors will have significant limitations that affect their quality of life and ability to care for themselves.

Prognosis after Treatment Depends on Prompt Diagnosis

The time between rupture and treatment can be critical. What can slow this interval is misdiagnosis. If appropriate diagnostic tests are not performed, are delayed or results are misinterpreted such that, treatment is not prompt, fatality or brain damage is more likely.

In addition to misdiagnosis or delays, mistakes can be made during treatment including surgical or anesthesia errors and during recovery with medication or therapy. Mistakes in any of these critical steps can increase the risk of death or permanent brain or neurological damage for patients.

If you lost a loved one to a ruptured cerebral aneurysm or you or a loved one survived a ruptured aneurysm but have permanent cognitive or neurological damage as a result, you may wonder if there was a mistake made during diagnosis or treatment.

If errors were made, you or your loved one may have been the victim of medical malpractice. If you want to find out if something went wrong, you need the advice of a reputable personal injury attorney with extensive experience with brain aneurysm cases. Rob Kornfeld has recovered significant settlements for brain aneurysm clients over his 30 year career and he’s ready to help you. Call for a free consultation.

Brain aneurysms are weak or thin spots on a blood vessel in the brain that can fill with blood. These are also called cerebral, intracranial or intracerebral aneurysms. More than half of brain aneurysms will never leak or rupture, but when they do, the results can be catastrophic. Up to three in 50 Americans have an undiagnosed brain aneurysm. It’s frightening to know that there may be a ticking time bomb undetected in your brain.

When a brain aneurysm ruptures, the prognosis can be grim. And if medical treatment is not given promptly, the outcome becomes less and less likely to be a positive one for the patient. Brain aneurysm misdiagnosis and medical malpractice increase fatalities and brain damage. When proper diagnostic tests are not performed, symptoms are disregarded or test results misread, outcomes are worsened. This is the worst possible situation for a patient to find themselves in. Here’s why…

Ruptured Brain Aneurysms Are Often Fatal

When a cerebral aneurysm ruptures, it causes a subarachnoid hemorrhage which is bleeding into the space around the brain. This event, called SAH for short, is the worst-case scenario for a brain aneurysm sufferer and has a high mortality rate at onset and in the weeks following. While SAH can be caused by other medical conditions, 85% of the time it is caused by a rupture of a brain aneurysm.

Once SAH starts, 15% of patients will die before being able to reach the hospital. If this has happened to someone you love, you may think it was inevitable. And it may have been. But in many cases, there are warning signs and symptoms. If your loved one reported the symptoms to their doctor or sought treatment for the warning signs and was ignored, this may be an instance of medical malpractice resulting in wrongful death.

46% of patients die after onset of SAH – usually within the first 24 hours. This means that roughly 31% of these people made it to the hospital and died while under a doctor’s care. If the aneurysm isn’t promptly repaired and a second hemorrhage occurs, the fatality rate jumps to a shocking 80%. Timely medical treatment is the only defense!

While the risk of brain aneurysm increases with age, they can and do occur at any age. For example: SAH from brain aneurysm is a significant factor in maternal death during the third trimester of pregnancy. Rapid diagnosis and treatment of the ruptured aneurysm is necessary to save the mother’s life and prevent significant neurological or brain damage in surviving patients.

Ruptured Aneurysms Can Be Fatal Even After Treatment

Of patients that have a ruptured brain aneurysm, 25% will die from complications within six months of onset. This brings the total fatality rate of SAH up to over 70% – a staggeringly high mortality rate for any medical ailment.

After a brain aneurysm ruptures, there is 33% risk of rebleed even after treatment. The greatest risk of rebleed is within two weeks of the initial SAH. With a rebleed, the risk of death is close to 70%! If vasospasm (constricting of arteries) occurs during treatment, the risk of rebleed and subsequent fatality increases.

Misdiagnosis of Ruptured Brain Aneurysm Increases Fatality Risk

In 95% of ruptured brain aneurysms, a CT scan will accurately diagnose the problem. This is a great diagnostic tool that can improve outcomes. However, if a CT scan is not performed, not performed promptly or the results are misread, this can lead to an avoidable fatality. Up to 25% of those with SAH are misdiagnosed or diagnosed far later than they should be.

A lumbar puncture or spinal tap is a standard follow up diagnostic test even if the CT scan looks normal because it can show evidence of SAH. If this diagnostic test is not offered in addition to the CT scan, this may be an instance of medical malpractice.

12% of people who come into the hospital with SAH are not given a CT scan or given one too late for treatment to have the best chance of success. Any delays in performing diagnostic tests and starting treatment lead to a worse outcome for the patient, up to and including fatality.

Brain Aneurysm Survivors Can Have Severe After Effects

For survivors of SAH, roughly half will be left with permanent brain damage. More than 25% of survivors will have significant limitations on their lives and their ability to care for themselves. 46% of SAH survivors will have cognitive impairments that permanently affect their quality of life.

Frequently, survivors of ruptured brain aneurysms with neurological deficits cannot go back to their jobs. Many are permanently disabled. More than 60% of survivors experience frequent headaches.

More than 25% of people who had SAH may have resultant pituitary disorders including ovulation problems in women of child-bearing years. If you have a brain aneurysm that ruptures, there is a 33% risk that you will have another aneurysm that can result in a rupture.

After a Ruptured Brain Aneurysm, You Need Answers

If you have lost a loved one to a ruptured brain aneurysm, you should ask yourself if they received the best possible medical treatment. Were their symptoms acknowledged by the treating physician? Were proper diagnostic tests performed promptly – including CT scan, MRI, lumbar puncture or cerebral angiogram? Was treatment performed promptly?

If you or your loved one survived the ruptured cerebral aneurysm but suffered damage including cognitive, neurological or physical complications, you have to consider whether these were avoidable. Simply asking for answers (if you are even able to) is often not enough. Doctors and medical professionals are trained to avoid blame.

They may use words like “unavoidable,” “unintentional,” “undetectable” or “inevitable” to make it seem like what happened to you or your loved one was out of their hands when in fact, that may not be accurate at all. You should be able to trust that doctors, nurses and other medical professionals will always take the best possible care of you, but that doesn’t always happen and when it doesn’t, it may be medical malpractice.

If medical malpractice occurred, those that were neglectful should be called to account for their actions in hopes that they will be less careless in the future. If you suspect, or want to know, if you or your loved one was the victim of medical malpractice in the treatment, delayed treatment or lack of treatment for a ruptured brain aneurysm, we may be able to help you get the answers you deserve.

A reputable personal injury attorney with extensive brain aneurysm case experience like Rob Kornfeld is your best option for resolution and recourse. Brain and neurological damage resulting from a ruptured brain aneurysm are not reversible! While every medical circumstance is different, Mr. Kornfeld will fight for you and has been successful in recovering million dollar settlements for some of his brain aneurysm clients and is ready to help you today. Call now for a free consultation.

The most serious implication for a patient with a brain aneurysm that ruptures is death. 40% of the time, when a cerebral aneurysm ruptures, the result is a fatality. This fatality rate is on par with the mortality rate of heart attacks and should always be taken seriously by medical professionals. 15% of those who suffer a ruptured brain aneurysm won’t even make it to the hospital alive. For those that do, medical care is the only thing that can prevent further risk of fatality or serious brain damage.

Symptoms Every Doctor Should Know

Brain aneurysms are relatively rare. Medical studies estimate that 6% of us have brain aneurysms and have no idea. Most brain aneurysms have no symptoms and 50% to 80% of them will never rupture. If you have no family history of brain aneurysms, you may not know the warning signs of a leaking or rupturing aneurysm.

But every nurse and every doctor are well trained to recognize the symptoms of this very serious medical problem. If they fail in their duty and ignore your symptoms, don’t perform appropriate diagnostics or misread test results – you have been the victim of medical malpractice. If this happened to someone you love, they may be left permanently incapacitated with extensive neurological damage and unable to care for themselves – or have died as a result of errors by medical professionals.

Disregarding Symptoms Can Have Devastating Consequences

When you come into your doctor’s office or emergency room with brain aneurysm symptoms (even if you have no idea what’s happening), your complaints should be taken seriously – very seriously! A recent study of misdiagnosed brain aneurysms had disturbing results. 80% of those misdiagnosed were alert and able to accurately describe their symptoms and answer questions from medical care providers.

Just 20% of those misdiagnosed were non-responsive and unable to tell the doctor their symptoms. This indicates that doctors are not taking patient complaints seriously – and it has devastating effects! Once a brain aneurysm begins to leak or rupture, the risk of permanent neurological damage and death climbs with each passing minute that treatment is delayed or denied. And if a subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) results, the prognosis grows grimmer without immediate medical intervention.

Proper Diagnosis of Brain Aneurysms Saves Lives

Part of appropriate medical care for a leaking or rupturing brain aneurysm is prompt and proper diagnostics. Even though some symptoms of a brain aneurysm manifest physically and are observable (droopy eyelid, vomiting, high blood pressure, seizure, blacking out and abnormal pupillary response), the most important diagnostic tools are scans and tests. Proper diagnosis of a leaking or ruptured cerebral aneurysm will include one or more of these tests:

• Computerized tomography scan – this specialized, high resolution x-ray is commonly called a CT scan and should be one of the first tests done to detect if there’s bleeding in your brain as a result of a brain aneurysm. Sometimes dye may be used in the test – if this is the case, it’s called a CT angiography.
• Cerebrospinal fluid test – also known as a spinal tap, this test should show blood in your brain or spinal fluid if your brain aneurysm has ruptured. This test should be performed if your symptoms are consistent with a ruptured aneurysm or subarachnoid hemorrhage.
• Magnetic resonance imaging – called an MRI, this diagnostic tool can often provide clearer pictures of aneurysms than a CT scan. When used with dye (called an MRI angiography) the aneurysm location and rupture may be easier to see.
• Cerebral angiogram – in this test, a thin catheter is threaded up into the arteries in your brain and then dye is injected. X-ray images are then captured which show the path of the dye and can reveal an aneurysm, rupture or SAH. This is the most invasive of the standard diagnostic tests.

Medical Errors Damage Families and End Lives

The Institute of Medicine blames more than 98,000 deaths each year on medical malpractice. And even more complications are attributed to medical errors. The National Heart Association’s Stroke Journal conducted a study of brain aneurysm patients and found that half recognized something was wrong and sought medical care, but says up to 60% of these patients were misdiagnosed. Once a patient recognizes for themselves that there’s a problem, it’s disturbing that a physician would then drop the ball.

Left untreated, leaking aneurysms can lead to a massive subarachnoid hemorrhage. These results can be permanently disabling, if not fatal. In roughly 40% of ruptured brain aneurysms, the result is death within 24 hours. Another 25% will die within six months. These statistics increase when a doctor fails to timely diagnose and recognize a leaking aneurysm and then treat it in a timely manner.

When a patient does survive, the results can be permanent damage up to and including:

• Full or partial paralysis
• Non-recoverable coma
• Stroke
• Changes in mood or behavior
• Cognitive deficits (moderate to severe)
• Balance and coordination problems
• Weakness in limbs
• Speech and swallowing problems
• Vision problems
• Re-bleeding
• Subsequent aneurysms

What Is Your Recourse for Misdiagnosis of a Brain Aneurysm?

If you or a loved one were the victim of medical malpractice associated with a brain aneurysm, you may be entitled to compensation. Brain damage, physical impairments and even fatality may have been avoidable with proper medical care and are all factors in bringing a medical malpractice case.

A reputable personal injury attorney with extensive brain aneurysm case experience like Rob Kornfeld is your best option for recourse. The after effects of a ruptured brain aneurysm can be devastating and disabling for life. Brain damage from a ruptured aneurysm is not reversible! Every case is different because of the unique circumstances, but Mr. Kornfeld has successfully recovered million dollar settlements for some of his aneurysm clients. Call now for a free consultation.

When you hear the phrase “brain aneurysm,” it’s scary. The idea of a blood vessel in your head that can explode at any moment – killing you or causing brain damage – is terrifying. Even though brain aneurysms are relatively rare, it’s important to be familiar with the warning signs because when a brain aneurysm ruptures, it’s very serious and sometimes deadly. Subarachnoid hemorrhage of a brain aneurysm is classified by the medical community as a “low-frequency high-risk” disorder.

Brain aneurysms that have not ruptured generally have no symptoms. But if the aneurysm has grown large, it can put pressure on other areas of the brain or nerves and cause neurological symptoms. These symptoms included severe headache in one spot, vision problems, speaking problems or weakness or numbness in the extremities. Often a hallmark complaint is that it is “the worst headache I have ever had.”

But for today’s blog, we’re going to focus on symptoms of brain aneurysm rupture. Once a brain aneurysm ruptures, it usually causes a subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) which is bleeding into the space between the brain and the tissues surrounding it. SAH can cause stroke, profound brain damage and death. These warning signs should never be ignored and emergency medical care should be sought immediately.

Here are the top 10 warning signs of brain aneurysm rupture or SAH:

#1 Severe headache

This is not just any old headache or like others in your past – this is the headache you would describe as “the worst headache of your life.” If you suffer migraines, you may be used to head pain, but this goes above and well beyond. It’s also referred to as a “thunderclap” headache and comes on rapidly – in seconds or minutes.

#2 Black-out or seizure

Either of these will leave you on floor. Passing out or a seizure, particularly if you’re not prone to either one, can be a warning sign. Either of these, especially in combination with other brain aneurysm warning signs is very troubling.

#3 Nausea or vomiting

Unprovoked and sudden nausea and vomiting can be a sign of aneurysm rupture. Alone, these signs may not be a red flag for you that there’s a medical emergency brewing. But either of these, in combination with other symptoms, should not be ignored.

#4 Stiff neck or neck pain

A ruptured brain aneurysm can cause stiffness or neck pain because the brain bleed irritates nervous system membranes. This symptom usually comes a few hours after the rupture. Everyone gets an occasional pain in the neck, but if it comes with other SAH warning signs, be wary!

#5 Vision problems

Because your eyes are in your head and all of the vessels and nerve endings are close to the action, they are often affected by a ruptured cranial aneurysm. Difficulty seeing, loss of vision, blurred vision, double vision or pain above or behind the eyes can all be signs of SAH and should not be ignored.

#6 Mental or cognitive issues

Confusion, slowed mental processing, lower level of consciousness, difficulty concentrating or excessive sleepiness can be warning signs of SAH. Ironically, this warning sign may be difficult for you to discern because of impaired awareness, but still warrant medical attention.

#7 Loss of pupillary response

One symptom of an aneurysm could be that one pupil may be dilated or one or both eyes may lose pupillary reflex. This means that when light is shined on them, the pupil doesn’t react. Even if it’s not SAH, this can be a symptom of other serious problems.

#8 Photophobia

Photophobia is also common with SAH. This is extreme sensitivity to light that causes discomfort or a pain reaction from even lower levels of light. This is another possible sign of SAH (or other medical issues) and shouldn’t be disregarded!

#9 Drooping Eyelid

Drooping eyelids (one or both eyelids) can onset when a brain aneurysm begins leaking, ruptures or with SAH. Also, difficulty lifting an eyelid or an eyelid closing itself and staying closed can all be warning signs of a cranial aneurysm hemorrhage.

#10 Weakness or numbness

These symptoms are less common, but can occur. Sudden numbness, weakness or tingling in one or both arms, one or both hands, one or both legs or any combination of these can be warning signs of SAH. If any of these occur, particularly with one or more of the above symptoms, be warned!

Accurate Diagnosis Is Critical

Even if you’re not aware of these signs and symptoms of subarachnoid hemorrhage caused by a brain aneurysm, medical professionals should offer you appropriate diagnostic and treatment for this serious disorder. Because death and serious brain damage are highly probable with SAH, proper medical care is your only defense. Taking action right away will save your life!

A subarachnoid hemorrhage is always a medical emergency and if you don’t receive immediate treatment, the risk of permanent brain damage (if you survive) is very high. CT scans are reliable measures to diagnose SAH. This is usually followed by angiography – imaging of the blood vessels using contrast dye and x-ray techniques.

Subarachnoid hemorrhages are classified as Grade I through Grade V. Grade I is the least severe and covers patients with mild headaches, but who are alert and responsive. The worst, Grade V, describes comatose patients with signs of severe neurological damage.

Was Your SAH Properly Diagnosed and Treated?

A recent National Institutes of Health (NIH) study revealed some disturbing facts about mishandling of SAH sufferers by medical professionals:

• 12% of patients suffering subarachnoid hemorrhage were misdiagnosed
• 43% of patients misdiagnosed had an ER physician as their first contact
• 36% of these patients were told they had a migraine or tension headache
• 73% of those misdiagnosed never had a CT scan
• 16% of those misdiagnosed had CT scan or lumbar puncture results misinterpreted
• 39% of those that were misdiagnosed suffered neurological complications before the correct diagnosis of SAH was made

The NIH study concluded that “Misdiagnosis is associated with increased mortality and morbidity.” Early diagnosis and aggressive intervention are necessary to save the life of someone with SAH and to prevent brain damage in survivors.

People with SAH who were able to respond, answer questions and had “normal mental status” made up just 19% of those that were misdiagnosed. This is not a comforting statistic. That means that over 80% of those misdiagnosed were suffering cognitive impairment and other classic warning signs of SAH yet were not properly diagnosed and treated!

Often an SAH survivor with permanent brain impairment will require lifelong medical attention. Survivors may have limitations on ability to work or total disability as a result of SAH. Brain damage from SAH is not reversible and will never get better.

If you or a loved one did not receive proper medical care for a subarachnoid hemorrhage from a brain aneurysm, you may have been the victim of medical malpractice. Contact a reputable attorney who has experience with aneurysm litigation to discuss your case and rights to compensation for the damage done to you.

Ultimately, a brain aneurysm is the result of thinning or deteriorating artery walls. They are most often found where arteries fork or branch where vessels are naturally weaker. But if you’ve been diagnosed with a brain aneurysm – or what may be called a cerebral, cranial or intracranial aneurysm – you probably want to know exactly what caused it.

Here are the five most common brain aneurysm causes:

#1 Heredity, Genetics, Gender and Race

Brain aneurysms can run in families. If you have more than one close relative – parent, brother, sister, aunt, uncle – who has had an aneurysm, you’re statistically more likely to have one. If someone in your family has had a subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) – the technical term for a ruptured aneurysm – other family members are 6% to 20% more likely to have a cerebral aneurysm that ruptures. Those with family risks are also more likely for an aneurysm to rupture at a smaller size.

Gender is also a factor – women are more likely to suffer brain aneurysms and ruptures than men. Also, race can be a factor – African Americans are twice as likely to develop cerebral aneurysms than Caucasians.

#2 Illnesses

Certain illnesses can contribute to the formation of aneurysms and subsequent rupture. High blood pressure can cause wear and tear that weaken vessels and makes them prime for aneurysm. Atherosclerosis, infections and sepsis can also cause aneurysms. These are all illnesses and disease that develop over time.

But other underlying brain aneurysm causes are inherited disorders you are born with. Connective tissue disorders like Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and hereditary disorders such as Polycystic Kidney Disease, Cerebral Arteriovenous Malformation (AVM), Marfan’s Syndrome and Neurofibromatosis can all cause cranial aneurysms.

#3 Smoking, Drinking and Drug Abuse

Smoking is a serious risk for cranial aneurysm, rupture and SAH. Smoking can cause brain aneurysms at a younger age and earlier onset hemorrhage, by five to ten years, of aneurysms. Smoking can also lead to hypertension and together they represent an even higher risk of cranial aneurysm. Smokers with hypertension have double the risk of aneurysm rupture and SAH as do non-smokers!

Drug abuse, particularly stimulants such as cocaine, crack cocaine, amphetamines, club drug MDMA, ecstasy, ephedrine and methamphetamine can put users at risk for cranial aneurysm, rupture and SAH. Because stimulants ramp up blood pressure, often excessively, blood vessels can be damaged and more at risk for aneurysm. Cocaine abusers are three times more likely to die from a brain aneurysm.

#4 Head Trauma and Tumors

Head trauma can cause cerebral aneurysms – this is a risk with either closed head or open head injuries. Brain aneurysms are most often associated with head trauma at the base of the brain – on the back of the head, near your neck. Accidents ranging from the mundane such as falling down the stairs to the rare such as industrial explosions can cause head trauma that can lead to aneurysm and hemorrhage.

Tumors in the brain and upper region of the spinal cord near the neck can cause brain aneurysms but are more rare factors. Neoplasms are also a relatively rare cause of cerebral aneurysms. A neoplasm is an abnormal growth of cells – it’s basically a tumor that’s not configured in a lump.

#5 Prior Aneurysm

Prior aneurysms are not only a cause, but also a sign that another aneurysm may already be present. Up to 15% of those who have been diagnosed with a brain aneurysm will have more than one. This risk is heightened in those with family history of cerebral aneurysm.

In follow up studies of cerebral brain aneurysm sufferers, roughly 5% will have de novo aneurysms. “De novo” is the medical term for anew. This indicates that these are not aneurysms that were present when the first aneurysm was detected, but have developed since then.

Causes of Brain Aneurysm Rupture

The presence of a brain aneurysm does not mean it will rupture. But if it does leak or rupture, the effects can be devastating. The death rate associated with ruptured brain aneurysm or subarachnoid hemorrhage ranges from 40% up to as high as 65%.

There are some activities that can increase or bring more rapid onset of rupture of an existing cerebral brain aneurysm. The following list can significantly raise the short term risk of rupture for approximately one hour after the activity. These include:

• Drinking coffee – this everyday activity can increase rupture risk by more than 10%
• Vigorous exercise – this is associated with an 8% increase in brain aneurysm rupture
• Blowing your nose – this unavoidable event causes a 5.4% increase in rupture risk
• Sex – this activity can increase rupture by up to 4.3% – the more energetic, the riskier

A good scare, a temper fit or excessive straining while moving your bowels can also increase brain aneurysm rupture risk.

Brain Aneurysms and Medical Treatment

Doctors may not always know what caused your brain aneurysm. What’s more important than being able to trace the aneurysm back to its source is that you receive the medical care you need as soon as possible. Once the aneurysm has begun leaking, or a rupture or SAH has begun, this becomes even more critical.

The factor that makes surviving a brain aneurysm rupture is prompt and accurate diagnosis and appropriate medical treatment. When medical professionals fail to perform recommended screenings, dismiss symptoms or don’t offer optimal care, the risk of fatality or serious brain damage climb.

The lifelong costs of caring for someone who has suffered brain or neurological damage as a result of a brain aneurysm can be astronomical. Compensation for inadequate medical treatment or diagnosis of a brain aneurysm can help allay some of this financial burden. To investigate whether medical malpractice contributed to a negative outcome associated with a brain aneurysm, consult a reputable personal injury attorney who has experience with aneurysm cases.

Seattle area attorney Rob Kornfeld is committed to helping victims who have suffered traumatic brain injuries as a result of healthcare negligence in the failure to timely diagnose and treat brain aneurysms. Rob also handles other types of medical malpractice cases. For over 30 years, Rob has been helping clients and their families who have been devastated by a brain injury through no fault of their own. 

Brain aneurysm is a generic term that covers several different conditions. The most important difference – the life-saving difference – is between a ruptured and unruptured brain aneurysm. Once a brain aneurysm ruptures, in 40% of cases, the result is a fatality. In two-thirds of the other cases, permanent neurological damage is the result.

But getting more specific, there are three main types of brain aneurysms:

• Saccular aneurysm
• Fusiform aneurysm
• Dissecting aneurysm

What is a saccular aneurysm?

A saccular aneurysm is the most common type of brain aneurysm and is also called a “berry” aneurysm because it looks like a berry on a stem. 90% of cerebral aneurysms are saccular aneurysms. More than one of these aneurysms can occur at the same time. These are also the most common cause of subarachnoid hemorrhages (SAH). Unfortunately, the most common discernible symptom of a saccular brain aneurysm is SAH.

Roughly one-third of people diagnosed with a saccular brain aneurysm will have more than one. These can be hereditary. If you have more than one close relative that has had a saccular brain aneurysm, you are up to 44% more likely of having one yourself.

80% of subarachnoid hemorrhages are caused by saccular aneurysms in the brain. SAH is always a medical emergency and can cause hemorrhagic stroke, brain damage and death. 90% of saccular brain aneurysms occur in the anterior circulation of the brain (the mid to front region) – the other 10% occur in the posterior (the rear area of the brain closer to the spinal column and back of the head).

What is a fusiform aneurysm?

Fusiform brain aneurysms are also called “spindle shaped” aneurysms because they are a widening of the vessel on both sides, rather than on just one (as in the case of a saccular). This gives them a spindle type shape – wider in the middle and tapering at either end. Fusiform cranial aneurysms can rupture, but are much less likely to than a saccular aneurysm. But even if there is no rupture, a fusiform aneurysm can still have devastating results.

Fusiform brain aneurysms can rupture or swell until they compress the surrounding brain tissue, causing stroke-like symptoms. As with any aneurysm, the size is important. With a fusiform brain aneurysm, the greater the size, the more likely there will be neurological symptoms.

While large fusiform aneurysms are less likely to rupture, they can still cause serious damage to the brain. One common result of this type of aneurysm is cerebral ischemia. This occurs when the brain is not getting enough oxygen, either to one region of the brain or to the whole brain. Cerebral ischemia can then cause stroke, heart attack and irreversible brain damage.

What is a dissecting aneurysm?

Dissecting brain aneurysms are also less common than saccular aneurysms, but are quite serious. A dissecting cerebral aneurysm is caused by a tear down the length of the wall of an artery along the inner layer of the vessel that allows blood to leak between the layers of the artery wall. This can result in a bulging out on one side of the artery or can impair or completely obstruct blood flow within the artery.

This type of brain aneurysm is most often associated with traumatic injury – but can also occur either spontaneously or as a result of a rare vascular disorder such as fibromuscular dysplasia. Because these aneurysms are frequently caused by head trauma, they typically occur in the outer areas of the brain (closer to the skull).

Because of their association with trauma, dissecting aneurysms have a high re-bleeding rate and a very high mortality rate – around 80%.

Are there any other types of brain aneurysms?

One other type of extremely rare aneurysm is a cerebral mycotic aneurysm. These are caused by an infection in the wall of an artery such as infective endocarditis. This is a rare and potentially fatal pregnancy complication. Bacterial infections may also cause this type of cranial aneurysm. Mycotic aneurysms have an extremely high fatality rate – near 90%!

Symptoms of a brain aneurysm should never be ignored. If you are having any symptoms, you should seek emergency medical treatment to prevent death, stroke or permanent brain damage – all complications that are possible if a brain aneurysm ruptures.

An aneurysm is a bulge or ballooning in a blood vessel caused by a weakened area of a blood vessel’s wall. If it’s a brain aneurysm – that means it’s happening in a blood vessel in your brain. It has often been described as a bubble or ballooning out of the side wall like in a worn a bicycle tire. If you are told you have a cerebral aneurysm or an intracranial aneurysm, you have a brain aneurysm – those terms are just medical jargon. Brain aneurysms are extremely dangerous and require immediate medical attention to prevent death or serious neurological damage.

A brain aneurysm is not something people are usually born with – most develop after the age of 40. Rarely, younger children will develop a brain aneurysm, but the average age at diagnosis is 50. People who have one brain aneurysm are 15% to 20% more likely to have other aneurysms.

According to the Brain Aneurysm Foundation, roughly six million Americans have an unruptured brain aneurysm. That means one in fifty of us are walking around with ticking time bombs in our brains! In many cases, a brain aneurysm can go indefinitely without rupturing. In 50% to 80% of cases, the aneurysm will never rupture. But when it does, the effects can be devastating or even fatal.

What are the fatality rates from a ruptured brain aneurysm?

About 30,000 people suffer leaking or rupture of a brain aneurysm each year and in 40% of these cases, the result is a fatality. When a brain aneurysm ruptures, it’s referred to as an aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage or “SAH.” Of those who die from an SAH, 15% of the fatalities occur before the victim can reach the hospital for treatment.

Most brain aneurysms are small – between one-eighth of an inch up to an inch in diameter. Any aneurysm larger than an inch is classified as a giant aneurysm and is much more likely to result in a fatality. Large aneurysms are relatively rare – just 5% to 8% of intracranial aneurysms are of this larger and more dangerous classification.

What are the after-effects for survivors of ruptured brain aneurysms?

Approximately 60% of patients will survive an SAH, but of these two-thirds will suffer permanent neurological damage or disabilities as a result of the rupture. The longer the ruptured aneurysm goes without medical care, the more severe the long-term effects will be. Re-bleeding and a second rupture are ongoing risks after the initial rupture. Ruptured aneurysms are also responsible for nearly 5% of all strokes.

SAH causes bleeding between the brain and the surrounding tissue. 20% to 35% of those who experience a rupture will have some form of brain damage. In some cases, this can be so severe that the patient could be placed on a ventilator or suffer serious heart or lung problems. Depending on what part of the brain the aneurysm occurs in, other after-effects can include loss of vision or double vision, loss of speech or difficulty speaking, cognitive problems or loss of sensation in parts of the body.

What can improve the outcome for someone with a ruptured brain aneurysm?

The sooner after a brain aneurysm ruptures that you receive proper medical treatment, the better your chances of surviving the SAH and the lower the chances of serious brain damage which can be caused by a stroke. Once a rupture occurs and the patient suffers a stroke, there is no reversing the brain damage this will cause. Optimally, the brain aneurysm should be treated before it ruptures. Smaller brain aneurysms may not require treatment, just monitoring.

Treatment could include coiling or surgical clipping of the aneurysm by a neurosurgeon or interventional neuroradiologist.

What are the symptoms of a brain aneurysm?

Small unruptured brain aneurysms often have no discernible symptoms. Large unruptured brain aneurysms though may cause one or more of the following symptoms and should be brought to the attention of your physician as soon as possible:

• Localized headache
• Worst headache ever (for one who normally does not have headaches)
• Pain above or behind an eye
• Dilated pupils
• Double or blurred vision
• Difficulty speaking
• Weakness or numbness of body parts
• Droopy eye lid
• Higherthan normal blood pressure

Symptoms of a ruptured brain aneurysm or leaking aneurysm should be taken very seriously. A trip to the hospital is preferable to waiting for a doctor’s appointment as an SAH can be fatal and the side effects devastating. If you are experiencing some or all of these symptoms, you should seek immediate medical attention.

• Sudden and severe headache
• Nausea or vomiting
• Sudden double or blurred vision or difficulty seeing
• Sudden change in your mental state or awareness
• Rapid onset of weakness or numbness in body parts
• Sudden dizziness or trouble walking
• Rapid onset photophobia (light sensitivity)
• Seizure
• Suddenly drooping eyelid
• Passing out

While many of these symptoms can indicate a migraine headache or other less serious medical issue, you shouldn’t leave anything to chance. Because so many ruptured brain aneurysms result in death or serious brain or neurological damage, symptoms should never be taken lightly!