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ABOUT BRAIN ANEURYSM REPAIR

Brain aneurysm repair is a surgical procedure performed to repair a brain aneurysm that has the potential to rupture, or has already ruptured.

A brain aneurysm occurs when a blood vessel bulges due to a weakened wall in the blood vessel. As a result of the weakened blood vessel wall, pressure is applied by the blood flowing through the blood vessel, which causes swelling, creating a bulge. It can occur anywhere in the brain, however, it is more likely to form at the base of the brain. Once a brain aneurysm is suspected, an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) or CT (computed tomography) scan is usually taken to confirm it. The MRI is usually the preferred method of imaging in cases where the aneurysm has not ruptured, and a CT is preferred in cases whereby it has already ruptured.

There are a variety of factors that increase the risk of developing a brain aneurysm, which includes age, family history of brain aneurysms, head trauma, smoking, high blood pressure, drug abuse, polycystic kidney disease, and connective tissue disorders. A brain aneurysm is more common in adults than in children and is more likely to occur in women.

Brain aneurysm symptoms are usually not present unless the aneurysm leaks or ruptures, and people can have an aneurysm throughout their life without being aware of it. A leaked or ruptured aneurysm bleeds into the brain (a brain hemorrhage) causing symptoms such as a sudden severe headache, a stiff neck, seizures, nausea, and blurred vision. This can result in loss of consciousness or death, and it is important to seek urgent treatment.

Brain aneurysm treatment varies depending on whether the aneurysm has ruptured or not. If it has not ruptured and the risk of a rupture is low, then the doctor may prescribe medication to help lower blood pressure and advise on a variety of lifestyle changes, such as giving up smoking, to help reduce the risk of rupturing. The patient will usually attend regular check-ups to monitor the aneurysm.

If there is a high risk of the aneurysm rupturing, then the doctor may recommend surgery as a preventive measure. Surgery is also performed to repair a ruptured aneurysm. There are 2 different surgical approaches to repairing a brain aneurysm, which are surgical clipping or endovascular coiling of the aneurysm, both of which are usually performed under a general anesthetic. While endovascular coiling is minimally invasive and has a quicker recovery time, surgical clipping may be preferred as endovascular coiling has a risk of the aneurysm reoccurring.

Recommended for

  • Brain aneurysm with high risk of rupturing
  • Ruptured brain aneurysm

TIME REQUIREMENTS

  • Number of days in hospital: 2 – 7 days.

The length of stay in hospital depends on which type of procedure the patient undergoes.

  • Average length of stay abroad

Time spent abroad depends on the type of brain aneurysm being treated. Unruptured aneurysms tend to have a quicker recovery process than ruptured aneurysms.

An MRI or CT scan is taken to view the aneurysm and form a treatment plan.

COMPARE BRAIN ANEURYSM REPAIR PRICES AROUND THE WORLD

Country Cost
United States 31000€
Germany 11365€
Turkey 2953€
Tunisia 2800€
Morocco 2124€

HOW TO FIND QUALITY TREATMENT ABROAD

Every year, close to 14 million patients travel worldwide for the purpose of receiving medical care. At Intclinics, we provide our patients with access to the top clinics and doctors around the world. To discover where the best Brain Aneurysm Repair clinics are for you, search on Intclinics for treatments all around the world.
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BEFORE BRAIN ANEURYSM REPAIR ABROAD

Depending on the type of brain aneurysm, the doctor will advise the patient on the best course of treatment. For patients with an aneurysm that has not ruptured, non-surgical treatments are advised. For patients with a high-risk aneurysm or ruptured aneurysm, the doctor will explain in detail the surgery that will be performed to make the repair. Patients are advised to check with the doctor before traveling for treatment, as some conditions may restrict patients from flying

A number of tests will be carried out to ensure that the patient is healthy enough to undergo surgery. As the surgery is performed under a general anesthetic, the patient will usually be advised to refrain from eating or drinking in the hours preceding surgery.

Patients with complex conditions may benefit from seeking a second opinion before beginning a treatment plan. A second opinion means that another doctor, usually an expert with a lot of experience, will review the patient’s medical history, symptoms, scans, test results, and other important information, in order to provide a diagnosis and treatment plan. When asked, 45% of US residents who received a second opinion said that they had a different diagnosis, prognosis, or treatment plan.

HOW IS IT PERFORMED

In cases where the aneurysm has not ruptured and does not pose a high risk of rupturing, then surgery is usually not advised. In these cases, the risk of surgery can outweigh the benefits, therefore surgery is avoided where possible. The patient will be prescribed medication to help manage symptoms, including pain relievers, anti-seizure medication, and medication to lower blood pressure. Another non-surgical method of treatment includes lumbar draining, which involves inserting a catheter into the brain to drain excess fluid.

For ruptured or high-risk aneurysms that have not yet ruptured, surgery is performed to repair it. There are 2 different surgical approaches to making the repair, one of which is surgically clipping it, and the other surgery involves the application of an endovascular coil to close off the artery. Both surgeries are performed under a general anesthetic.

To surgically clip the aneurysm, the neurosurgeon will make an incision in the scalp and part of the skull bone is removed to gain access to the brain. The neurosurgeon will then apply a metal clip onto the aneurysm to close it, and this is left in place to keep it permanently closed and prevent it from rupturing. The skull bone is then put back into place and the incision site is closed with sutures.

Endovascular coiling is a minimally invasive procedure that is performed by inserting a catheter into an artery elsewhere in the body, such as the arm or leg, and guiding it through the blood vessels up to the brain and into the aneurysm. Platinum coils, which are passed through the catheter, are released into the aneurysm, causing clotting which prevents blood from entering the aneurysm. This closes the aneurysm off from the artery, in turn, preventing it from rupturing in the future.

Once the procedure is complete, the patient is then taken to the ICU (intensive care unit) and closely monitored.

Anesthesia

General anesthetic.

The surgeon reshapes the nose into the desired shape or size.

WHAT TO EXPECT AFTER BRAIN ANEURYSM REPAIR

Post procedure care

Patients who have had the aneurysm clipped will take longer to recover than those who have endovascular coiling. Patients will need to take it easy for 4 to 6 weeks before returning to normal activities.

Patients who have had endovascular coiling tend to recover quicker and can resume normal activities after a number of days. However, with endovascular coiling, there is a greater chance of the aneurysm reoccurring, therefore the patient will need to attend follow-up angiography appointments to monitor the aneurysm.

IMPORTANT THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT BRAIN ANEURYSM REPAIR

Potential risks

  • Brain damage
  • Behavioral changes
  • Stroke
  • If a complication arises, death may occur
2023-07-15T22:30:08+00:00