Brain Aneurysm - How To Treat It?

There are various underlying health conditions that can contribute to the risk of getting a brain aneurysm. Poorly controlled high blood pressure is one such condition which puts a person at great risk of brain aneurysms that will need to be treated through surgery. Another condition that increases a person s risk of suffering from a brain aneurysm is a renal disorder known as autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD).

Neurosurgical clipping is one way of dealing with a brain aneurysm but there is another kind of procedure that is also used. Known as endovascular coiling, this procedure involves the insertion of a catheter into an artery in the leg or groin. This catheter is then guided up to the area of a brain aneurysm and used for putting platinum coils into the aneurysm, which prevents blood from entering it, thereby keeping it from growing any further.

The age of a person plays an important role in determining whether or not neurosurgery would be suitable for them. Studies have shown that when it comes to treating a brain aneurysm, the risk factor is higher if the patient s age is more. In such a situation, the risks often outweigh the benefits of the procedure.

In many cases, surgical procedures are performed before a brain aneurysm ruptures. This is known as preventive surgery and is usually performed when there is a high-risk factor involved. Preventive surgery for an aneurysm that has not ruptured is usually opted for if an aneurysm is large in size or situated close to a major blood vessel. It is also performed if ruptured brain aneurysms are at present in the family history of the patient.