Treatment for Brain Aneurysm

Treatment for brain aneurysms is more promising than it was several years ago. Doctors consider several factors when deciding which treatment option is best for a particular patient. Some factors include patient age, size of aneurysm, location of aneurysm, any additional risk factors, and your overall health.

Because the risk of a small (less than 10 mm) aneurysm rupturing is low and surgery for a brain aneurysm is often risky, your doctor may want to continue to observe your condition rather than do surgery. Your doctor may suggest ways to keep your blood vessels as healthy as possible, such as managing high blood pressure and not smoking. If your aneurysm is large or causing pain or other symptoms, though, or if you have had a previous ruptured aneurysm, your doctor may recommend surgery.

The following procedures are used to treat both ruptured and unruptured brain aneurysms:

Endovascular embolization.

endovascular

During this procedure, a small tube is inserted into the affected artery and positioned near the aneurysm. For coil embolization, soft metal coils are then moved through the tube into the aneurysm, filling the aneurysm and making it less likely to rupture. In mesh embolization, mesh is placed in the aneurysm, reducing blood flow to the aneurysm and making it less likely to rupture. These procedures are less invasive than surgery. But they involve risks, including rupture of the aneurysm.

Surgical clipping

clipping

This surgery involves placing a small metal clip around the base of the aneurysm to isolate it from normal blood circulation. This decreases the pressure on the aneurysm and prevents it from rupturing. Whether this surgery can be done depends on the location of the aneurysm, its size, and your general health. Both of these procedures should be done in a hospital where many procedures like these are done.

Some aneurysms bulge in such a way that the aneurysm has to be cut out and the ends of the blood vessel stitched together, but this is very rare. Sometimes the artery is not long enough to stitch together, and a piece of another artery has to be used.

Aneurysms that have bled are very serious. In many cases, they lead to death or disability. Management includes hospitalization, intensive care to relieve pressure in the brain and maintain breathing and vital functions (such as blood pressure), and treatment to prevent rebleeding.

Patients' Stories

  • patient01

    I had the artery coiled in an attempt to stop the bleeding. The procedure seemed to work and the next day I was talking. After five long hours of surgery, the doctor informed everyone that I was awake and fine.

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  • patient02

    I had the artery coiled in an attempt to stop the bleeding. The procedure seemed to work and the next day I was talking. After five long hours of surgery, the doctor informed everyone that I was awake and fine.

    read more
  • patient03

    I had the artery coiled in an attempt to stop the bleeding. The procedure seemed to work and the next day I was talking. After five long hours of surgery, the doctor informed everyone that I was awake and fine.

    read more

Patients' Testimonial