People Who Died as a Result of an Aneurysm

Please add people who have died as a result of an aneurysm or a complication of one.

An aneurysm is an excessive localized enlargement of an artery caused by weakness in the arterial wall allowing it to widen abnormally or balloon out. Aneurysms may remain silent or rupture, causing serious problems and even death.

Aneurysms can occur in any blood vessel, with particularly lethal examples including aneurysms of the Circle of Willis in the brain, aortic aneurysms affecting the thoracic aorta, and abdominal aortic aneurysms. Aneurysms can arise in the heart itself following a heart attack, including both ventricular and atrial septal aneurysms.

While most aneurysms go undetected and do not lead to serious events, the statistics show that:

• Aortic aneurysms cause or contribute to over 25,000 deaths in America each year, according to evidence reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
• Around 30,000 brain aneurysms rupture annually, resulting in death in around 40% of cases, according to estimates by the US National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Fast Fact on Aneurysms:

1. The etiology (causes) of aneurysms are not fully understood, although some modifiable risk factors have been identified.
2. As an aneurysm increases in size, the risk of rupture increases.
3. A variety of arteries can be affected by aneurysms, including peripheral arteries.
4. The most significant aneurysms affect the arteries supplying the brain, and the aorta (the largest artery in the body, which originates in the heart).
5. If an aortic aneurysm ruptures, this causes internal bleeding; if a cerebral aneurysm ruptures, this causes bleeding in the brain.
6. The risk of an aneurysm varies between individuals, as does the risk of an aneurysm rupturing.
7. Not all aneurysms need treatment - some can be monitored while risk factors are managed.
8. High-risk aortic aneurysms may warrant surgical treatment to prevent rupture, but the risks of brain surgery mean that most brain aneurysms are not treated surgically until absolutely necessary.
9. Many aneurysms are asymptomatic, but ruptured aneurysms do produce life-threatening bleeds that need emergency hospital care.
10. Bleeding from the aorta is particularly dangerous in the chest, and abdominal bleeding is also dangerous; an aneurysm that ruptures and causes bleeding in the brain is called a stroke and is an medical emergency.
11. The risk of developing an aneurysm in the first place, and of an aneurysm rupturing is increased by smoking, excessive alcohol intake and drug abuse, especially cocaine use.
12. Aneurysms are more common in males and in older people, especially in people with high blood pressure and/or arteriosclerosis (hardening of the arteries).

The causes of aneurysms are sometimes unknown.

• Some may be congenital, meaning a person is born with them.
• An aneurysm may also occur as the result of aortic disease or an injury.
• A family history of aneurysm may increase your risks of developing an aneurysm.
• Other risk factors include high blood pressure, high cholesterol and smoking.

Aneurysms can occur anywhere, but the most common are:

• Arterial and venous, with arterial being more common.
• Aortic aneurysm: occurs in the major artery from the heart; namely aortic aneurysms including thoracic aortic aneurysms and abdominal aortic aneurysms
• Cerebral aneurysm. also known as intracranial or brain aneurysms occurs in the brain, including cerebral aneurysms, berry aneurysms, and Charcot–Bouchard aneurysms. This can cause severe strokes
• Popliteal artery aneurysm: occurs in the leg behind the knee
• Mesenteric artery aneurysm: occurs in the intestine
• Splenic artery aneurysm: occurs in an artery in the spleen
• The heart, including coronary artery aneurysms, ventricular aneurysms, aneurysm of sinus of Valsalva, and aneurysms following cardiac surgery.
• The kidney, including renal artery aneurysm and intraparechymal aneurysms.
• Capillaries, specifically capillary aneurysms

Notable cases

1. Ranker - Famous People Who Died of Cerebral Aneurysm (19 listed)
2. Ranker - Famous People Who Died of Aortic Aneurysm (40 people listed)

• Lucille Ball, (1911-1989) Comedian, TV producer, Model, Actor, Singer; died from an aortic rupture in the abdominal area days after having undergone apparently successful heart surgery for a dissecting aortic aneurysm
• Laura Branigan, who died of a cerebral aneurysm (Laura Branigan - Find A Grave)
• David Cone, who suffered from an aneurysm and missed most of the 1996 baseball season; (Wikipedia - David Cone (Still living in 2017))
• John Olerud, suffered an aneurysm in 1989 and forced to wear batting helmet on field all of his career since then
• Albert Einstein, (1879-1955) Mathematician, Physicist, Scientist; died from a repaired aortic aneurysm
• Charles de Gaulle, who died from an aneurysm within his neck
• Richard Holbrooke, (1941-2010), who died from a thoracic aortic aneurysm
• Stuart Sutcliffe, who died from an aneurysm in his brain's right hemisphere
• John Ritter, (1948-2003), died September 11, 2003 of a misdiagnosed thoracic aortic dissection (aortic aneurysm)
• George C Scott (1927-1999) Theatre Director, Soldier, Theatrical & Film Producer, Actor
• David Mills (1961-2010) Journalist, TV producer, Screenwriter, Writer

For Additional Reading See:

• Wikipedia - Aneurism
• Medical News Today - Aneurysm: Causes, Symptoms and Treatments
• American Heart Association - What is an Aneurysm?
• Mayo Clinic - Aneurysms

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