Pain Like Being Hit with a Hammer... What Illness Did Biden Undergo Surgery for Twice?

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] Joe Biden, the 46th President-elect of the United States, nearly lost his life in his 40s while serving as a senator from Delaware. This was due to a critical rupture of a brain aneurysm, often called a 'time bomb in the head.'

In 1988, at the age of 45, Biden underwent surgery lasting over 13 hours after a brain aneurysm in the left side of his brain ruptured one day in February. His condition was so severe that a Catholic priest was preparing a funeral mass.

Having narrowly survived, Biden underwent a second brain surgery on May 4, three months later, at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. This was to prevent the rupture of another aneurysm located in the right side of his brain.

A brain aneurysm refers to a condition where the blood vessel walls in the brain weaken and balloon out like a berry. Most patients have a single aneurysm, but some, like Biden, have multiple. The problem is that there are usually no symptoms until rupture occurs. The risk of rupture increases suddenly when there are large fluctuations in blood pressure.

When a brain aneurysm ruptures, it causes a headache that feels like being hit on the head with a hammer. About 30% of cases result in immediate death at the scene. However, as in Biden’s case, surgery after rupture can prevent rebleeding and proper treatment can lead to recovery.

This condition, found in 3-5% of the general population, mainly occurs in older adults. However, cases in people in their 40s, like Biden, are increasing due to high blood pressure, heavy drinking, smoking, arteriosclerosis, and stress. The trend is also rising domestically. The number of patients increased more than tenfold over ten years, from about 15,000 in 2008 to 115,640 last year. Especially on days with falling temperatures and large temperature differences like these days, the number of patients surges.

Professor Shin Yong-sam of the Department of Neurosurgery at Catholic University Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital advised, "Even if an unruptured brain aneurysm exists, it may never rupture in a lifetime," and added, "Even if treatment is recommended, one should decide carefully due to the associated risks."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.