At 0:30 a.m. on January 31, most people have fallen asleep, and after dawn is the most reunion and lively day of the year - Chinese New Year's Eve. Gao Xiuzhong, a neurosurgeon at the Second Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, had just returned home when he received an urgent call from the Department of Neurosurgery of Huaiji County People's Hospital. It turned out that a few hours ago, the neurosurgery department of the hospital received a man who suddenly fell into a coma, and the head CT showed extensive subarachnoid hemorrhage, suspected intracranial aneurysm rupture, and his condition was critical, which could deteriorate or even die at any time!
Considering the limited local medical equipment and technical capabilities of Huaiji, in order to help patients gain vitality, the Second Hospital of Guangdong Medical College immediately launched multi-department collaboration to prepare for emergency surgery.
At about 4:00 a.m. on January 31, when the patient arrived at the Second Hospital of Guangdong Medical College, he was in a deep coma and was in danger of life at any time. The hospital immediately opened a green channel and sent the man to the intervention room for total cerebral angiography and aneurysm embolization.
The contrast results showed that the male patient had two aneurysms in his brain, one in the cavernous sinus segment of his left internal carotid artery and the other at the top of the basal artery next to the brainstem, the center of life.
Due to the patient's tortuous blood vessels, unsatisfactory direction of aneurysm, and combined with Moyamoya disease, Ji Yunxiang, the leader of the cerebrovascular disease treatment team of the Second Hospital of Guangdong Medical College, used naked coil embolization technology to treat him. Due to the excessive amount of bleeding at the time of the onset of the disease, the patient's own Moyamoya disease, hydrocephalus and vasospasm after embolization will come earlier and more dangerously than expected, and the expert team decided to continue to perform ventricular drilling and drainage to relieve high cranial pressure.
It was Chinese New Year's Eve afternoon before the end of the operation. The team of surgeons was busy from the early morning to the afternoon, and although tired, they were relieved to have successfully saved the lives of patients. At present, the patient is fully awake and has normal limb movement.
Be wary of intracranial aneurysms – the "ticking time bomb" in your brain
Professor Wang Yezhong, director of the Department of Neurosurgery of the Second Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, pointed out that aneurysm is an artery wall that is destroyed and puffed out outward under the impact of blood flow, forming a "blood bubble". As the name suggests, the tumor wall is often thinner and irregular than the normal artery wall, and it is easy to rupture and bleed, which is also the first cause of subarachnoid hemorrhage. Intracranial aneurysms occur in about 3% to 7% of the population, and once ruptured and bleeding, they can cause death in minutes to hours.
"The weather suddenly gets colder, blood pressure rises suddenly due to vasoconstriction, and the chance of brain aneurysms rupture increases." Wang Yezhong explained. Rupture of an intracranial aneurysm often occurs in the morning, eating, going to the toilet, being emotionally agitated, or engaging in manual labor. Before rupture, symptoms are usually not caused, or symptoms are mild, such as numbness on one side of the face, heavy vision, or blurring. Sudden and severe headache after rupture, often accompanied by vomiting, neck rigidity, etc., in severe cases, confusion, and even life-threatening.
Wang Yezhong reminded that there is no effective way to prevent cerebral aneurysms, and for patients with aneurysms with hypertension, diabetes, smoking, and family history, it is necessary to conduct regular imaging reviews, while avoiding overwork, strenuous exercise, and maintaining smooth stools.
Medical Guidance/Professor Wang Yezhong, Director of the Department of Neurosurgery, Second Hospital of Guangzhou Medical College
Text, photo/ Guangzhou Daily, New Flower City reporter Weng Shuxian correspondent Xu Yongyi
Li Jin, editor of Guangzhou Daily Xinhuacheng