Aneurysm

    Overview

    An Aneurysm is a bulge, or weakening, of a blood vessel. They often appear in the aorta (chest or abdominal), brain, back of the knee, intestine, or spleen. A ruptured aneurysm can cause internal bleeding, stroke, and can sometimes be fatal. Aneurysms often have no symptoms until they rupture. Treatment depends on the location, size, and condition of the aneurysm.

    A brain or cerebral aneurysm is a cerebrovascular disorder in which the wall of an artery in the brain becomes weak and balloons outward. The ballooned part of the artery is the aneurysm. An aneurysm has thin walls and can leak or rupture easily. Aneurysms can form in many sizes and can rupture at any time.

    The rupturing of an aneurysm is called a subarachnoid hemorrhage and causes blood to leak into the fluid-filled space around the brain. This bleeding is very dangerous and can cause brain damage, disabilities or death.

    Treatment options for cerebral aneurysm include:

    Microsurgical clipping
    During this surgery, a metal clip is placed at the base of the aneurysm to control the bleeding and to decrease the risk of more bleeding. This procedure often requires a small craniotomy, which is the creation of a window in the skull. This allows the doctor to navigate around the brain with the help of endoscopes and microscopes to detect the aneurysm and clip it.

    Aneurysm coiling
    Aneurysm coiling is used to block the blood vessel supplying blood to the area of the brain with the aneurysm. Metal coils are placed in the aneurysm through a catheter that is inserted in the groin area. This surgery will prevent further bleeding. Your neurosurgeons may recommend a combination of surgical and non-surgical approaches to treat aneurysms.

    Our providers

    Profiles

    Hesham Allam, MD

    Neurologist Neurology
    751 N. Rutledge St. Suite 3100 Springfield, IL 62702
    Profiles

    Dominique Ely, MSN, AGACNP-BC

    Nurse Practitioner Vascular Surgery
    747 N. Rutledge Street 4th Floor Springfield, IL 62702
    Profiles

    Carlos Illingworth Garcia, MD

    Neurocritical Care and Stroke specialist Neurology
    Profiles

    Rachel Kim, MD

    Cardiac Surgeon Cardiothoracic Surgery
    747 N. Rutledge Street 4th Floor Springfield, IL 62702
    Profiles

    Christopher Lawrance, MD

    Cardiac Surgeon Cardiothoracic Surgery
    747 N. Rutledge Street 4th Floor Springfield, IL 62702
    Profiles

    William Robinson, MD

    Vascular Surgeon Vascular Surgery
    747 N. Rutledge Street 4th Floor Springfield, IL 62702
    Profiles

    William S. Stevens, MD

    Cardiovascular Surgeon Cardiothoracic Surgery, Cancer Care
    619 E. Mason St. 5th Floor Springfield, IL 62701
    Profiles

    Tian Zhang, MD

    Vascular Surgeon Vascular Surgery
    747 N. Rutledge Street 4th Floor Springfield, IL 62702

    Why SIU

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