What is a brain aneurysm?

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Dwayne Lambert
7 years ago
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1 What is a brain aneurysm? A brain aneurysm results from the thinning of an artery wall that bulges or balloons and fills with blood. Brain aneurysm happen most commonly in the Circle of Willis. The Circle of Willis is a group of arteries at the base of the brain that form a circle and provide blood to the brain. Brain aneurysms are also known as cerebral aneurysms or intracranial aneurysms. There are two main types of aneurysms: saccular and fusiform. Saccular aneurysms have a neck and a body resulting in a look similar to a berry on a vine. The majority of aneurysms that rupture are saccular. Fusiform aneurysms swell on all sides of the artery. Symptoms of brain aneurysm Typically there are no symptoms of a brain aneurysm until it ruptures. However, a larger aneurysm that has not ruptured cause pressure on nerves in the brain. Symptoms that may occur include blurred or double vision, weakness, numbness, difficulty with balance or speaking. A ruptured aneurysm can leak or burst. This leads to a subarachnoid hemorrhage, bleeding in the space between the skull and the brain. The onset of symptoms are sudden and severe. - Severe headache - Loss of vision or double vision - Pain above or behind the eye - Neck pain - Nausea/vomiting 1 / 7

2 - Fainting or loss of consciousness - Seizures - Sensitivity to light - Drooping eyelid Causes of Brain Aneurysm Risk factors for brain aneurysm include: - Complications of other diseases such as sickle cell or lupus - Hypertension - Smoking - Alcohol and drug abuse - Hardening of the arteries - Head injury 2 / 7

3 Diagnosis and Treatment of brain aneurysms Diagnosis of brain aneurysms include; CT scans, MRI, and X-rays to visualize the location and extent of the rupture. Symptoms such as seizures or high blood pressure will be treated with the appropriate medication. The aneurysm itself is usually treated on one of three ways. A small aneurysm that has not burst may be monitored regularly and treated if necessary. Endovascular embolization involves a catheter inserted into the femoral artery into the brain. A coil is inserted into the aneurysm. This coil induces clotting and destroys the aneurysm. The other interventions involve brain surgery. Microvascular clipping involves a clip inserted at the base of the artery preventing blood flow to the aneurysm. A similar procedure involves occlusion and bypass. A clip blocks the artery at the aneurysm and a vessel is attached to bypass the aneurysm and reestablish blood flow. How are Brain Aneurysms viewed by Social Security Association (SSA) The SSA uses a five-step sequential evaluation process to determine if an adult is disabled. If it is determined that you are disabled or not disabled, the evaluation ends and does not proceed to the next step. 3 / 7

4 Step 1: Substantial Gainful Activity Substantial Gainful Activity is work that involves considerable mental of physical activity intended for profit. The work need not be full-time or realize a profit. If you have substantially gainful employment, then the SSA will determine that you are not disabled. Step 2: Severe Medically Determinable Impairment Your brain aneurysm and other impairment(s) must significantly limit your physical and/or mental ability to perform basic work activities for at least twelve (12) months. If it does not, the SSA will determine that you are not disabled. Step 3: Medical Severity Your brain aneurysm and/or impairments must meet or equal impairments listed in the SSA's listing of Impairments found in the Blue Book. Brain aneurysm is not a listed impairment. Therefore, the severity of your brain aneurysm and/or your other impairments that occur as a result of your brain aneurysm must equal an impairment in the listing of Impairments. Step 4: Residual Functional Capacity 4 / 7

5 If your brain aneurysm and/or impairments do not meet or equal a listed impairment, it must prevent you from doing work that you have performed for the last fifteen (15) years. If it does not, the SSA will determine that you are not disabled. Step 5: Adjustment to Other Work If your brain aneurysm and/or other impairments prevent you from performing work performed in the last fifteen years, the SSA will evaluate your age, education and work experience to determine if can make adjustments to perform other work. If you can perform other work, with adjustments, the SSA will determine that you are not disabled. Exceptions to Step 5, adjustment evaluation No more than a 6 th grade education - Worked at least 35 years at physically demanding, unskilled labor - Not working and unable to do past work because of a severe impairments - You will be considered unable to perform lighter work At least 55 years old 5 / 7

6 - Up to an 11 th grade educational - No relevant work experience - Severe medically determinable impairment, - No Residual Function Capacity evaluation is needed. You are considered disabled The Evaluation Process in Children The sequential evaluation process for children (under the age of 18) is similar to process used for adults. The SSA will consider additional factors listed in a and b including the child's age, test scores, and how the child's level of function compares to other children the same age who are not impaired. Step 1 and Step are almost identical to the evaluation for adults. The main distinction lies in Step 3 and Step 4. Step 3: Medical Severity Brain aneurysm is not specifically listed in the Blue book. Therefore the child's brain aneurysm and/or impairments that occur as a result of the child's brain aneurysm must meet, medically equal, or (as explained in a) functionally equal impairments listed in the SSA's listing of Impairments found in the Blue Book. If the criteria for an impairment are not met or equaled for 6 / 7

7 the required duration, then the SSA will find that the child is not disabled. In either case, the inquiry will end here. 7 / 7

Aneurysm Embolization System for the Treatment of Cerebral Aneurysms. Information for Patients and Families

this booklet is provided for for any non emergency questions, contact us at Aneurysm Embolization System for the Treatment of Cerebral Aneurysms Information for Patients and Families 2 3 Information for