A brain aneurysm is a weak bulging spot on the wall of a brain artery which may form silently from wear and tear on the arteries or can result from injury, infection, or inherited tendency. The most common type of aneurysm is known as a “berry” aneurysm because of its shape which includes a stem, and the less common form is an outpouching of the arterial wall on both sides of the artery which does not have a stem.
A ruptured brain aneurysm occurs as a result of weakness in the wall of one of the veins or arteries supplying blood to the brain and leakage occurs when the blood vessel wall tears due to the pressure of blood. When this happens blood bursts into the surrounding tissues causing damage and injury. The people at greatest risk are those with high blood pressure and those who smoke, particularly the elderly, however haemorrhages may also occur in people with no known risk factors. Many people have a sudden, severe headache which usually persists for more than an hour and is often at the back of the head often followed by nausea. In more severe cases there may be a collapse or a fit with loss consciousness.
Diagnosis of a ruptured brain aneurysm is not straightforward, and patients may arrive at the hospital having apparently recovered from a severe headache of sudden onset or at the other end of the spectrum the patient may be in a coma. Accident and emergency room doctors should be aware of the numerous warning symptoms may give an indication of a bleed and should not ignore the relatively minor symptoms that sometimes occur. Diagnosis is often missed even by very experienced specialists even though the warning symptoms prior to a major haemorrhage occur in about 50% of all patients. Medical negligence may also arise regarding the treatment which can be negligently performed, and if further damage is caused, then a claim for medical negligence compensation can be made. There are three types of haemorrhage that are often misdiagnosed :-
A Sub arachnoid haemorrhage which often appears as a headache and rapidly progresses to a full scale life threatening medical emergency often resulting in coma and death.
A subdural haemorrhage which usually evolves slowly, often after trauma to the head particularly in elderly people.
An extradural haemorrhage which often occurs as a result of a contact sports injury to the head.
Medical negligence compensation claims law is technical and complex and varies depending on location. To succeed in a compensation claim it is essential that you receive legal advice from a lawyer in your own area.. A medical negligence compensation lawyer can help you assert your rights and get the settlement you deserve. Instruct a specialist medical negligence lawyer to ensure that you get a fair deal. Most lawyers will deal with your brain aneurysm claim using a contingency fee arrangement (no win no fee) and if you don’t receive a settlement then your lawyer won’t get paid.
