Brain Aneurysm Treatment

A brain aneurysm (also called a “cerebral” or “intracranial” aneurysm) is an abnormal bulge or enlargement of an artery in the brain. Caused by weakness in the wall of an artery, brain aneurysms are most common in adults between the ages of 30 and 60, and they are more common in women than in men.

Most brain aneurysms do not cause any symptoms. Rarely, patients can suddenly develop a severe headache, experience numbness or weakness on one side of the face or body, or notice changes in their ability to see. These symptoms are signs of a potential emergency and should be immediately evaluated by a medical expert.

A brain aneurysm can rupture for any reason. Some factors that can increase this risk include smoking, high blood pressure, a history of ruptured brain aneurysm in you or your family, and large aneurysm size.

Not all brain aneurysms need to be treated because many have very low risk of causing a problem. If a brain aneurysm has ruptured, or if it is at significant risk of rupturing, then treatment may be warranted.

There are two general methods of treatment. One type of treatment involves surgery, in which a neurosurgeon temporarily removes a portion of your skull to reach the aneurysm, then applies a clip to pinch off the aneurysm from the outside.

The other type is a minimally-invasive treatment in which a neurointerventional radiologist fixes the aneurysm from inside. This is done either by filling the aneurysm using coils or redirecting blood flow away from the aneurysm using a flow diverter.

You can Request a Consultation with an MIR neurointerventional radiologist to learn more. You do not need a referral for treatment.

Most insurance carriers cover brain aneurysm treatment. Please check with your insurance provider to see if your specific plan covers the procedure.

Brain Aneurysm Treatment

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