If you have been diagnosed with a brain aneurysm, then you may need to be treated quickly by an endovascular neurosurgeon. The professional will use a variety of techniques to help resolve the aneurysm. Keep reading to learn about a couple of them.
Coil Placement
Aneurysms are bulging blood vessels that are caused by a weak spot in the arterial wall. The weak wall will continue to balloon and swell until the pressure causes an eruption. To prevent this, a surgeon can place a metal coil into the bulging area. This blocks off the ballooned section of the blood vessel to prevent blood from collecting inside of it. The coils may be used as a temporary or permanent solution to treat the aneurysm. If it is temporary, then the blood vessel will be clipped off at a later date.
Coil placement procedures can be completed intravascularly, meaning they are completed within the blood vessel itself. One of your major arteries will be used to gain access to the blood vessel. Typically, the femoral artery in your leg will be utilized, but an artery in your neck might be used as well.
Coil placement is a safe and minimally invasive procedure. However, you will likely need to remain in the hospital for a day to ensure that bleeding at the insertion site is controlled.
Stent Insertion
Most people think of the heart when they hear the word stent. It is true that stents are placed in the coronary arteries. However, they can be placed elsewhere in the body. Stents are like small, flexible tubes that allow blood to flow through them. They are placed in areas where blood flow is blocked, and they can direct blood straight through the artery when an aneurysm develops. This prevents blood from collecting and circulating in the aneurysm.
Like a coil, a stent can be inserted through an artery with the use of an endoscopic device. And, the same sorts of main arteries are utilized too. In fact, many neurosurgeons will use both coils and stents at the same time to treat an aneurysm, especially if clipping is not necessary.
Stents are left in place long term to give the blood vessel structure and strength. Keep in mind that stents will deteriorate over time and will need to be replaced. Your physician will tell you how often imaging tests should be completed to check on the integrity of the stent device.
If you want to know more about aneurysm treatments completed by an endovascular neurosurgeon, speak with your physician or contact companies such as Interventional Neuroassociates.