Pregnancy and intracranial aneurysms.

Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage during pregnancy is rare but is an important cause of maternal mortality. Physiologic changes in pregnancy may predispose to aneurysm formation and rupture. In general, neurosurgical considerations take precedence over obstetric considerations. Ruptured aneurysms should be treated as they would be in patients who are not pregnant. Unruptured aneurysms should be treated if they are symptomatic or enlarging. Other aneurysms should be treated on an individual basis.