Advanced Aneurysm Treatment Unit

The Centre for Advanced Aneurysm Treatment at Yashoda Hospital has competent neurologists, neurosurgeons, and radiation therapists who are trained and experienced in the full range of aneurysm prevention, management, and treatment.

Our specialists have been diagnosing and treating a wide range of blood-flow disorders in the brain from emergency situations in which weak artery walls create an immediate risk to less urgent cases where an extensive assessment determines whether surgery is necessary. Our hospital ensures that you receive the most appropriate treatment for your condition.

Why Choose Yashoda Hospital for Advanced Aneurysm Treatment?

The Yashoda Hospital Aneurysm Center team evaluates each aneurysm patient to determine the best singular therapy or treatment combination for the patient’s specific case. We are one of the few hospitals in the country that treats more than 200 aneurysm cases a year.

Our doctors and surgeons are equipped and trained to perform surgery on large aneurysms, which is an extremely complex, challenging, and often life-saving procedure. Our surgeons use powerful microscopes that enable them to see tiny vascular structures in detail and in real-time, making this complex aneurysm surgery safer and more precise.

Our team of experts holds proficiency in treating most of the complex and rare cases related to a brain aneurysm in order to ensure quality care and successful recovery.

What Is a Brain Aneurysm?

A brain aneurysm is the bulging and weakening of an area in the wall of an artery in the brain, resulting in an abnormal widening or ballooning. The aneurysm is always at risk of bursting, leading to brain haemorrhage. Although most cases of a brain aneurysm are likely the result of a genetic alteration, infection, or trauma, atherosclerosis can also cause aneurysms. There are three types of aneurysm:

• Ruptured Aneurysm
• Leaking' Aneurysm
• Unruptured Aneurysm

What Are The Various Indicators For Brain Aneurysm?

Even though many patients show no symptoms, or simply experience mild headaches, 40% of patients may have warning signs such as:

• A localized headache
• Cranial nerve paralysis
• Nausea or vomiting

When the arteries rupture, the patient may experience

• Severe headaches
• Photophobia
• Neck stiffness
• Even loss of consciousness
• High blood pressure
• Loss of balance or coordination
• Sensitivity to light
• Back or leg pain
• Pain in the specific area, like eyes
• Dilated pupils

The symptoms, as mentioned above, may result in an intracranial haemorrhage called the subarachnoid haemorrhage. A doctor will evaluate the patient for the above symptoms and will prescribe a treatment plan accordingly.

Are You A Candidate For Advanced Aneurysm Treatment?

A patient requires undergoing Advanced Aneurysm Treatment if you encounter risk factors such as:

Inherited risk factors

• Alpha-glucosidase deficiency
• Alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency
• Arteriovenous malformation (AVM)
• Coarctation of the aorta
• Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (A less common connective tissue disorder)
• Family history of aneurysms
• Female gender
• Fibromuscular dysplasia
• Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia
• Klinefelter syndrome
• Noonan's syndrome
• Polycystic kidney disease (PCKD)
• Tuberous sclerosis

Acquired risk factors

• Advancing age
• Head injury
• Infection
• High alcohol consumption
• High blood pressure
• Atherosclerosis (plaque in the inner lining of an artery, due to fat deposition)
• Cigarette smoking
• Use of illicit drugs (cocaine or amphetamine)

These risk factors increase the patient’s risk of developing Brain Aneurysm. Some patients may experience more than one risk factor and may not develop the disease, while others may show no symptoms and can be diagnosed with a Brain Aneurysm. A doctor will evaluate the patient’s health by performing some diagnostic tests.

What Are The Various Diagnostic Tests Required Prior To Advanced Aneurysm Treatment?

Some of the most common diagnostic tests used to evaluate the patient’s condition for Brain Aneurysm include:

• Cerebral Angiography

Diagnostic Cerebral Angiography (DSA) is a procedure done to investigate various abnormalities of the brain's blood vessels. A catheter is placed in the selected blood vessel to perform DSA, while a rapid set of X-rays are obtained, much like time-lapse photography. It is the most accurate method to identify and define aneurysms, arteriovenous malformations, carotid stenosis, and many other diseases of the blood vessels supplying the central nervous system. To provide maximum comfort to the patient, conscious sedation and local anaesthesia is given before the catheters are placed. Most patients undergoing diagnostic angiography need to stay in the hospital for 3 to 6 hours after the procedure. Prior to discharge, the physician ensures that the patient is in good health. After the angiography, patients must avoid heavy lifting or exercise for the next ten days and swim for five days.

• Computed Tomography Scan (CAT Scan)

A contrast dye is injected into one of the veins to create an image of the brain to see the blood flow and spot aneurysms in your brain.

• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

To image almost all brain parts, a non-invasive and painless procedure is performed by using magnetic fields and radio waves.

• Cerebrospinal Fluid Test

A technician will draw spinal fluid to see whether it contains blood, which indicates that your aneurysm may have ruptured.

What are The Procedures We Use At Yashoda Hospital For Advanced Aneurysm Treatment?

Based on your health and the size, type, and location of the aneurysm, the doctor may determine advanced methods for aneurysm treatment.

• Microsurgical Clipping

It is a surgical process that demands the removal of a section of the patient’s skull in order to locate the aneurysm. A metal clip is then placed on the opening of the aneurysm to cut off the blood flow from the blood vessel that feeds the aneurysm. The brain is then sealed back with stitches.

• Endovascular Coiling

In endovascular coiling, a very thin metal wire is inserted inside the brain aneurysm, through a miniature catheter, by a highly experienced surgeon. This microcatheter is navigated through the web of brain arteries under image guidance in a cath lab. Once the catheter reaches the desired location, a series of handmade coils are placed inside the aneurysm and detached from outside the body. These small coils form a coil mass which blocks the blood flow to the aneurysm and subsequently lead to the healing of the artery

• Flow Diversion with Stents

It is one of the latest and most advanced treatments for a brain aneurysm, which involves the use of flow diverters, tubular stent-like implants. These implants work by diverting blood flow away from an aneurysm sac, thereby stopping blood movement within the aneurysm. This helps in stimulating the body to improve the site.

What Are The Precautions You Should Take After The Advanced Aneurysm Treatment?

Some major precautions one must take to improve their health condition are:

• Stop the use of cocaine or other stimulant drugs.
• Stop smoking
• Maintaining lower blood pressure by taking measures such as:
• Limit the intake of caffeine
• Avoid lifting heavy things
• Eat a healthy diet
• Exercise regularly as prescribed by the doctors.
• Avoid consumption of alcohol
• Stay hydrated

Are There Any Complications Involved?

Some of the common complications associated with the treatment of brain aneurysm include:

• Discomfort in the area of the incision
• The patient may feel tired for weeks
• Diminished appetite
• Bleeding in the brain
• Loss of blood flow to the brain
• Swelling or infections at the site
• Respiratory or urinary infections

More serious problems which are rare include:

• Heart-related problems
• Colon problems,
• Kidney problems
• Paralysis (even more rare)

However, if a patient feels discomfort highly after the treatment, then he/she must immediately seek a doctor’s help.