A brain aneurysm is a weakened, balloon-like bulge in the wall of an intracranial blood vessel. Left untreated, high arterial blood pressure can cause an aneurysm to leak or rupture, triggering a life-threatening subarachnoid haemorrhage. Today, over 80% of aneurysms can be treated endovascularly without opening the skull.
How Endovascular Coiling Works
Under live high-resolution fluoroscopy (DSA), an interventional neurologist navigates a flexible microcatheter from a tiny puncture in the radial artery (wrist) or femoral artery (groin) all the way into the cerebral aneurysm pouch.
- Platinum Microcoils: Extremely soft coils thinner than a human hair are released inside the aneurysm dome.
- Clot Induction: The packed coils slow down blood swirling inside the bulge, creating a controlled, protective clot that seals the weak wall.
- Flow Diverter Stents: For wide-necked or complex aneurysms, a mesh flow diverter is positioned across the parent artery to redirect blood flow away from the aneurysm.
Advantages of Coiling Over Open Surgical Clipping
Because coiling requires no surgical craniotomy (cutting through the skull bone), patients experience significantly reduced post-operative pain, minimal infection risk, and a much faster hospital discharge—often returning home within 2 to 3 days for unruptured cases.
When Should You Get Screened?
If you have a first-degree relative with an intracranial aneurysm, or experience sudden atypical cranial nerve signs such as double vision or a dilated pupil, an MRI/MRA screening or dedicated CT angiography is strongly recommended.
