An aneurysm happens if an artery in the brain weakens, causing it to bulge and potentially rupture. If it worsens and bursts, it can lead to bleeding, resulting in a stroke. This health issue can have grave repercussions if left untreated. Unfortunately, it could be challenging to detect, often leading to misdiagnosis.
Errors with diagnosing aneurysms are frequent, occurring with a quarter of patients who seek medical care. These mistakes could happen because the symptoms of aneurysms also occur with other mild illnesses. These signs include:
- Headaches
- Pain radiating from behind the eyes
- Unusual nausea and vomiting
- Vision issues
- Light sensitivity
- Unusual stiffness or paralysis
- Coordination problems, making it difficult to perform essential body functions
Patients suffering from aneurysms could experience one or more of these signs. Still, if the symptoms are mild, physicians might rule out an aneurysm and diagnose it as the flu, an ear infection or other stress-induced illnesses. If so, the treating doctor might fail to recommend the necessary procedures for detecting the aneurysm, such as MRI, CTA or CT scans.
Aneurysms are treatable
Aneurysm patients can get better with proper diagnosis and treatment. Severe cases might require open surgery or coiling. Meanwhile, mild aneurysms could only require monitoring and observation while addressing possible risk factors. Still, the only way to determine the best treatment for this condition is with an accurate diagnosis.
Ideally, health care providers can detect aneurysms in time by maintaining a standard duty of care. But if their reckless decisions worsen the patient’s condition, it could be medical malpractice. If so, victims could file a claim against the negligent party, depending on the circumstances.
