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Neurology (Expert Forum)
Brain Aneurysms in Infants
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Brain Aneurysms in Infants
by L-Edwards, Apr 08, 1997 12:00AM
Re: Brain Aneurysms in Infants
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Posted by CCF Neuro MD on April 08, 1997 at 08:35:53:
In Reply to: Brain Aneurysms in Infants posted by L. Edwards on April 08, 1997 at 08:34:37:
: Brain aneurysms in infants
This Message was posted by: L. Edwards - 4/1/97 9:04:05 PM
Message:
I have a 19 year old son that had a brain aneurysm rupture at age 5weeks. I am interested in the prognosis of other infants or
young children that have survived an aneurysm through surgery. Any history or information you could share would be
appreciated.Thank you. Sincerely, L. Edwards
================================================
Rupture of true congenital "berry" aneurysms in infants is quite rare outside the setting of an inherited connective tissue disease.
More often, so-called "AVMs" or arteriovenous malformations, are the culprit, but the rupture of an aneurysm proper is
certainly not impossible. With regards to prognosis, obviously to a large extent, it depends on where the aneurysm was
located, how bad the hemorrhage was and which parts of the brain it damaged etc. In general, however, the prognosis for
recovery in infants especially is much better than adults given the same amount and location of hemorrhage, since an infant's
brain has a much greater potential to recover than an adult's. For instance, if in an infant, the left side of the brain that ordinarily
develops into the part of the brain that controls language is damaged, the right side of the brain can develop it instead, whereas
in an older child or adult the capacity for such recovery or adaptation of other parts of the brain is much more greatly limited.
Some
unusual presentations of AVMs in infants as opposed to adults include heart failure secondary to massive "shunting" or
diversion of blood into the brain from other parts of the body, and hydrocephalus, or swelling of the spinal fluid compartments
within the brain, secondary to obstruction of drainage of spinal fluid out of the brain by the AVM or more often, one of the
large veins in the brain draining the malformation blocking the outflow of this fluid.
