What are the symptoms of intracerebral aneurysmal rupture?
Prior to rupture, saccular aneurysms are usually asymptomatic. However, an expanding aneurysm can have a “mass” effect causing problems with double vision, loss of vision, numbness in the face, an enlarged pupil size, or a drooping eyelid. Usually patients who have an aneurysm rupture experience sudden onset of a severe headache, often described as “the worst headache of my life”, frequently accompanied by transient loss of consciousness and sometimes vomiting. A stiff neck often follows. Rupture of an aneurysm usually occurs while the person is active rather than during sleep. Occasionally, patients experience a warning or “sentinel” headache which is attributed to a smaller leakage of blood usually preceding a major bleed by several hours to days later.