Intracranial Aneurysms—Schievink 1997

An intercranial aneurysm is a brain aneurysm, is a cerebrovascular condition where a localized ballooning or enlargement of the blood vessel results from a weakening in the wall of a cerebral artery or vein. The branching points of the main arteries that run through the subarachnoid space at the base of the brain are where intracranial aneurysms are most frequently found. An intracranial aneurysm rupture that results in a subarachnoid hemorrhage is a dangerous occurrence that has high rates of morbidity and fatality. A little over 12% of patients pass away before seeking medical care, 40% of hospitalized patients pass away within a month of the incident, and more than a third of survivors have significant brain abnormalities. Additionally, many individuals who would normally be thought to have a positive prognosis also have chronic cognitive abnormalities. The case fatality rate for aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage has remained constant over the past few decades, despite improvements in diagnostic, medicinal, and surgical techniques. In this review, I go through recent advances in our knowledge of the epidemiology and pathogenesis of cerebral aneurysms, as well as diagnostic techniques and therapeutic strategies.

N Engl J Med 1997; 336:28-40

DOI: 10.1056/NEJM199701023360106