Brain Aneurysm

Brain Aneurysm Treatment in India

A sudden, severe headache can be a sign of a ruptured brain aneurysm, which is a medical emergency. This short explains the main approaches to treatment.

What is a brain aneurysm?

An aneurysm is a weak or thin spot on a blood vessel in the brain that bulges and fills with blood.

• Ruptured aneurysm. If an aneurysm ruptures, it causes bleeding in the brain. This is a medical emergency, often signalled by a sudden, extremely severe headache.
• Unruptured aneurysm. Many aneurysms do not rupture. They may cause no symptoms and are sometimes found during tests for other conditions.
• Pressure symptoms. If a large, unruptured aneurysm presses on nerves in the brain, it can cause symptoms like pain behind an eye, vision changes, or numbness on one side of the face.
• Diagnosis. Aneurysms are diagnosed with imaging tests. These can include CT scans, MRI, or a cerebral angiogram, which provides a detailed view of the blood vessels.

What are the treatment options?

The decision to treat an unruptured aneurysm depends on its size, location, and your overall health. A ruptured aneurysm almost always requires treatment.

• Surgical clipping. This involves open brain surgery. A surgeon places a small metal clip at the base of the aneurysm to cut off its blood supply.
• Endovascular coiling. This is a less invasive procedure. A catheter is passed through an artery, usually from the groin, to the aneurysm. Soft platinum coils are then placed inside it to block blood flow.
• Flow diverters. In some cases, a mesh stent called a flow diverter can be placed in the parent artery. This redirects blood flow away from the aneurysm, causing it to shrink over time.
• Observation. For some small, unruptured aneurysms, the risk of treatment may outweigh the risk of rupture. In these cases, a specialist may recommend monitoring it with regular scans.

The right approach for you depends on your specific case. A final decision can only be made after a specialist has reviewed your medical reports and recent imaging studies.