Emergency Brain Aneurysm Treatment

A brain aneurysm, or cerebral aneurysm, is a bulging, weak section of a blood vessel in your brain. If not promptly treated, a brain aneurysm can rupture and bleed into the brain.

A brain aneurysm rupture is a medical emergency. About 20 to 35 percent of people experience significant brain damage after a rupture. Almost 50 percent of people do not survive a ruptured brain aneurysm.

At Dignity Health, our expert team of emergency care doctors, nurses, and technicians provide comprehensive, efficient, and personal care for brain aneurysm in the Bay Area. We are here for you 24 hours a day, seven days a week at our advanced emergency rooms, ready to quickly diagnose and treat your brain aneurysm — call 9-1-1 if you think you may have a ruptured aneurysm.

What Causes Brain Aneurysm?

Factors that can increase your risk of brain aneurysm are:

  • Age
  • Certain diseases, including high blood pressure, diabetes, atherosclerosis, and polycystic kidney disease 
  • Excessive alcohol consumption
  • Family history of brain aneurysm
  • Female gender
  • Illicit drug use
  • Smoking

Brain Aneurysm Symptoms

Your doctor may find a brain aneurysm during an evaluation for a different medical condition. Most brain aneurysms don’t cause any symptoms until they rupture.

You may develop symptoms if a brain aneurysm grows large or bursts. Signs and symptoms of a ruptured aneurysm can include:

Call 9-1-1 for emergency care if you suspect a ruptured brain aneurysm.

Treatment & Prevention for a Ruptured Brain Aneurysm

A ruptured brain aneurysm needs emergency treatment. It can bleed into the space around the brain (subarachnoid hemorrhage) or the brain itself (hemorrhagic stroke). These serious conditions can cause permanent nerve or brain damage, or possibly death. Treatment aims to stop bleeding into the brain and prevent further brain damage.

If your brain aneurysm hasn’t ruptured and isn’t causing problems, your doctor may recommend holding off treatment and monitoring the aneurysm for changes.

To prevent an aneurysm from rupturing, your doctor may recommend surgery or medication. Your health care team with work with you to create a treatment strategy that best fits your needs and keeps you healthy. Treatment and prevention options for your aneurysm depend on its size, type, and location.

Whether your brain aneurysm has ruptured or not, a diagnosis can be unsettling. Dignity Health is here to help you feel comfortable with your treatment options and keep you as safe as possible. Talk to one of our neurologists to learn more about your treatment options for your brain aneurysm today.

Dignity Health provides prompt, compassionate ER care for brain aneurysm in San Francisco, Santa Cruz, and Redwood City.