What is endovascular aneurysm coiling?
Coiling treats a brain aneurysm from inside the artery, without opening the skull. Soft platinum coils fill the aneurysm so that blood no longer flows into it, reducing the risk of bleeding or re-bleeding.
Stroke & Neurointervention
Aneurysm Coiling
A minimally invasive treatment that fills a suitable brain aneurysm with soft coils, placed from inside the blood vessels.
How it works
A microcatheter, a very thin tube, is guided through the arteries into the aneurysm under X-ray imaging. Coils are placed one by one until the aneurysm is filled. Blood then clots around the coils, sealing the aneurysm off from circulation.
Clip · 66sEndovascular embolization or coiling
How coils are placed inside an aneurysm through the blood vessels to seal it off.
Which aneurysms may be suitable?
Suitability depends on the aneurysm’s anatomy, such as its size, shape, location and the width of its neck, and on clinical factors including whether it has bled and the patient’s overall health. Wide-necked aneurysms may need a stent or balloon to help hold the coils in place.
Before the procedure
- Detailed imaging, often including DSA, to plan the treatment
- Review of medicines, allergies, kidney function and other health conditions
- For some aneurysms, antiplatelet medicines started beforehand
- An explanation of the procedure, its benefits and its risks
During the procedure
Coiling is usually done under general anaesthesia in an angiography suite. Access is through an artery at the groin or wrist, and the coils are placed under continuous X-ray guidance.
Potential risks and limitations
- Bleeding from the aneurysm during the procedure
- Clot formation leading to stroke
- Problems at the access site
- The aneurysm may not be completely filled, or may refill over time and need further treatment
After treatment
Patients are monitored in hospital after the procedure. Follow-up imaging, usually MRA or DSA, checks that the aneurysm remains sealed, at intervals advised by the treating team.
Coiling versus other approaches
Coiling, flow diversion and surgical clipping each suit different aneurysms. The choice depends on the aneurysm, whether it has bled and the patient’s health and preferences, and is made individually after discussion.
Flow-diverter treatmentFAQs
Frequently asked questions
Is coiling a surgery?
It is a procedure done from inside the blood vessels through a small puncture at the groin or wrist, so the skull is not opened.
How long will I stay in hospital?
After a planned procedure for an unruptured aneurysm, the stay is often short. After a ruptured aneurysm, the stay is longer and depends on recovery from the bleed.
Will I need more scans?
Yes. Follow-up imaging checks that the aneurysm stays sealed, as some aneurysms can refill over time.
Open Mon–Sat, 9AM–5PM
Book an aneurysm consultation
Consultations are at KIMS Hospitals (New Facility), Kondapur, Hyderabad. Bring your CT, MRI or angiography reports and images. A sudden, severe headache is an emergency: call 108 or go to the nearest emergency department.
Request appointment
Choose a day from Monday to Saturday. The clinic calls back to confirm your time.
Request appointmentClinic hoursMon–Sat, 9AM–5PM9AM5PM