Cerebral vasospasm
Cerebral Vasospasm
Cerebral vasospasm (pronounced: /sɪˈriːbrəl ˈvæsəˌspæm/) is a medical condition characterized by the narrowing of the blood vessels in the brain, leading to a reduction in blood flow. This can result in ischemia or stroke.
Etymology
The term "cerebral vasospasm" is derived from three words: "cerebral" meaning related to the brain, "vaso" from the Latin word "vasculum" meaning vessel, and "spasm" meaning sudden, involuntary muscle contraction.
Causes
Cerebral vasospasm is most commonly associated with subarachnoid hemorrhage, which is bleeding into the space surrounding the brain. Other causes can include traumatic brain injury, certain medications, and illicit drug use.
Symptoms
Symptoms of cerebral vasospasm can vary depending on the severity and location of the vasospasm. They can include sudden severe headache, loss of consciousness, aphasia, hemiparesis, and visual disturbances.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis of cerebral vasospasm typically involves a combination of clinical assessment, imaging studies such as CT scan or MRI, and sometimes cerebral angiography.
Treatment
Treatment of cerebral vasospasm aims to restore normal blood flow to the brain. This can involve medications to relax the blood vessels, procedures to physically widen the blood vessels, and treatment of any underlying causes.
Related Terms
- Subarachnoid hemorrhage
- Ischemia
- Stroke
- Aphasia
- Hemiparesis
- Visual disturbances
- CT scan
- MRI
- Cerebral angiography
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Cerebral vasospasm
- Wikipedia's article - Cerebral vasospasm
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