It is important to be informed about the available procedures if you have a stroke or brain aneurysm. This article will explain the risks and benefits of treatment as well as provide information about the OHSU Brain Institute's expertise treating brain aneurysms. It also addresses the effectiveness of different aneurysm treatments.
Treatment of aneurysms is effective
There are many ways to evaluate the effectiveness of aneurysm treatments, including complete or close-to-complete occlusion. A mRS score greater than two is the primary outcome of efficacy. This score is determined by an independent observer. The number of recurrences occurred in the followup period is another measure of effectiveness.
One study evaluated complex wide-neck, bifurcation theeurysms and their occlusion. It found that the majority (60%) of aneurysms are occlusive after six months. The angiographic appearance also remained stable or improved. However, it also showed that a small minority of aneurysms recurred during long-term follow-up.
Risk of rupture
Aneurysm treatment can cause rupture depending on the type. Aneurysms in the vertebral artery, vertebrobasilar junction, and basilar artery have higher risks than those in the anterior circulation. Patients with aneurysms more than 10 millimeters in diameter are at higher risk.
Additional risk factors include alcohol abuse and smoking. The damage cigarette smoke does to the arteries can lead to aneurysm rupture. It is possible to also rupture if you have high blood pressure. Larger aneurysms can rupture without warning. Patients with aneurysms of the posterior communicating arterial artery are also more susceptible to rupture than those from other parts.
Aneurysm treatment procedures
Aneurysm treatments can be divided into two types: open surgery or endovascular coiling. Open surgery is more invasive, while endovascular coiling is a minimally invasive procedure. Both require the use of a catheter for passage through the blood vessels.
This involves inserting an extremely thin catheter into the neck area of the aneurysm, and then advancing a coil that looks similar to a spring. The coil will seal the aneurysm's opening once it is in place. Sometimes multiple coils might be needed.
OHSU Brain Institute's expertise in treating brain aneurysms
The OHSU Brain Institute is well-versed in diagnosing and treating brain aneurysms. These are small, balloon-like mass that form in the arteries of your brain. They can cause subarachnoid hemorhage, which is a potentially life-threatening blood clot. Fortunately, the OHSU Brain Institute houses some of the most respected brain aneurysm experts in the country.
Aneurysms refer to weakening areas of an artery wall that could rupture at any time. They can range in size from a few millimeters to the width of a quarter. Although they can occur anywhere in the skull, most of them are found along the arteries connecting the brain to the base. A saccular type, also known as an aneurysm (or saccular), is an aneurysm attached to an arterial by a stem. This can have either a narrow neck or one with a wide neck.