What is a Brain Aneurysm?

A brain aneurysm, which is also referred to as a cerebral aneurysm, describes a situation where there is a bulge and filling of the blood in the weak area of blood vessels located in the brain. This bulge may over time tend to increase in size, exerting pressure on the brain tissues or nearby nerves. If it breaks, it will cause the brain or the area surrounding it to bleed, which is called hemorrhage. This can lead to complications such as a stroke or other serious conditions. Effective brain aneurysm treatment is crucial to prevent these severe outcomes.

Anatomy of a Brain Aneurysm

A brain aneurysm can be said to develop most frequently at the bifurcations of the arteries in the brain, where the walls of the blood vessels are the weakest. It can be classified into the following three sizes; small, which is less than 10 mm, large or regular, which resides in the range of 10 to 25 mm and giant which exceeds 25 mm. There are many varieties of brain aneurysms, the most frequent being saccular or berry aneurysms situated at the base of the brain known as the circle of Willis.

Complications of a Brain Aneurysm

Their presence even in the brain does not guarantee symptoms of the particular brain conditions, especially in the case of the small aneurysm. Statistics, however, dramatically escalate, when a case of rupture is considered. The following complications appear to be of central focus:

1. Rupture and Consent Subarachnoid Haemorrhage:

The most dangerous complication of a brain aneurysm is considered to be its rupture. Blood leaks out into the surrounding area of the brain when an aneurysm ruptures; in particular, blood leaks into the subarachnoid space causing subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). In extreme cases of this kind of bleeding, which can be a rapid onset headache, also referred to as a thunderclap headache, presents a risk of coma, brain injury even death if not managed promptly.

2. Vasospasm:

At times, after subarachnoid hemorrhage events, a temporary narrowing of blood vessels around the affected area sometimes occurs; this is referred to as Vasospasm. This results in lowering the amount of blood supply to the brain, which may in turn cause an ischemic stroke (a stroke due to the reduction of blood supply).

3. Hydrocephalus:

The outpouring of blood due to an injury may obstruct the normal circulation of cerebrospinal fluids (CSF) causing fluid collection in the brain’s ventricles. This condition referred to as hydrocephalus causes a rise in pressure within the skull which can cause additional injury to the brain.

4. New Bleeding:

An untreated aneurysm has the possibility of bleeding again which could lengthen one’s chances of survival or recovery from neurologic dysfunction.

5. Coma and Death:

In extreme rupture cases, the built-up pressure inside the skull and bleeding into the tissues could cause coma or death. The prognosis in cases of untreated ruptured aneurysm is poor, with nearly 40% of those affected dying immediately after the first bleeding.

Symptoms of Brain Aneurysms

Brain Aneurysm is a bulge in a blood vessel of the brain that does not rupture and in most cases does not have any symptoms or warning signs. Certain people might however have warning signs such as headache, vision changes, or pain in specific areas when the aneurysm is large enough to encroach on nerves or brain tissues. Typically however a ruptured aneurysm has the following signs and symptoms:

• Excruciating and sudden headache (it is said to be the most terrible headache ever experienced)
• Nausea and vomiting of the contents of the stomach
• Inability to move neck forward due to pain (neck stiffness)
• Inability to tolerate light (photophobia)
• Inability to stay conscious/ confusion
• Fits

Treatments: Endovascular Aneurysm Coiling

Dr. Sandeep Sharma who is the head of IR Facilities is a proficient neuro-intervention specialist who has been dealing with complex cerebrovascular issues such as brain aneurysms for the past sixteen years. Under his lead and his team, they are focused on endovascular aneurysm coiling which is a minimally invasive treatment of brain aneurysms aimed at reducing the risk of their rupture and is performed via the femoral artery or the radial artery.

Reasons Why Dr. Sandeep Sharma and His Team Are Best for Endovascular Coiling

Dr. Sandeep Sharma and his associates possess great experience carrying out endovascular procedures, and they are equipped with modern devices that conform to the highest level of patient care and safety. Below are a few points on why Dr. Sharma and his team are the best in this profession:

1) Advanced Expertise:

Dr. Sharma professionally practiced interventional neuroradiology for the last 16 years. He has acquired unparalleled skills to carry out practices, such as aneurysm coiling, which involve extensive precision and publication. His team has dealt with all types of aneurysms, simple to highly complicated cases, and thus knows a great deal about every spectrum of intervention and its subtleties

2) Cutting-Edge Technology:

The IRFacilities under Dr. Sharma are equipped with advanced imaging technology such as high-resolution fluoroscopy and 3D rotational angiography guides. This enables precise catheter and coil navigation and the utmost safety and efficacy of the operation on the patient.

3) Minimally Invasive Approach:

Unlike traditional methods, endovascular coiling is ‘minimally invasive’, therefore, patients will not have to undergo any open surgery. This in turn reduces the chances of infections, shortens the time required for healing, and causes less damage to the brain and the tissues around it.

4. Dynamic collaborative approach:

Sandeep. Sharma heads a group of professionals who practice neuroradiology, neuro neurointervention, thereby ensuring that the patient is addressed from all angles. This makes it easier for them to work on difficult cases in an effective manner as well as increase their success rates.

5. Treatment focused on the patient’s care:

The group of Dr. Sharma strives to apply a more individualized approach. They explore every patient’s condition in detail such as the size, formation, and position of an aneurysm among others before deciding on the most suitable treatment.

Among Us — Endovascular Coiling vs Surgical Clipping

There exist two major ways of treating a brain aneurysm: endovascular coiling and surgical clipping. The two are effective under respective conditions with coiling having a lot more benefits, especially for some patients.

1. Less Invasive:

For instance, endovascular surgical treatment such as surgical clipping entails craniotomy to access the aneurysm while in coiling, the intervention is done within the blood vessel. This nature of intervention minimizes the chances of infection as well as pain and other untoward effects of the procedure. The rehabilitation process is faster with most patients discharged from the hospital within a few days of intervention as opposed to several weeks after surgical clipping.

2. Time between recovery and procedure:

Minimalism explains coiling; as a result, patients do not spend long in the hospital and even after discharge get back to their daily routines. This is essential, especially for patients who, for one reason or another, may need to go back to their normal way of doing things shortly after treatment without a gracious recovery time.

3. Reduced Risk of Neurological Damage:

Because coiling does not disturb the brain structure, the risk of complications is low. However, the surgical approach necessitates controlling the neck of the aneurysm which may cause some risk factors such as edema of the brain or injury to the surrounding tissues. There are also fewer chances of having seizures or neurological deficits following the procedure in coiling.

4. Suitable for Difficult and Complex Aneurysms That Are Deep Within Tissues:

Endovascular coiling proves to be more beneficial in cases where the aneurysm to be treated is positioned way deep into the brain or in places that cannot be accessed by surgery. In these cases, surgical clipping may prove to be more complex and invasive.

5. Repeatability:

The coiling technique can often be done again if an aneurysm comes back, or if new aneurysms occur. In contrast, surgical clipping is usually a single procedure, and re-clipping bears with it complications and risks.

6. Lower Risk for High-Risk Patients:

Endovascular coiling techniques are associated with lesser risks for patients with co-morbidities or older patients who are routinely at higher risk of surgical complications or for patients who suffer from heart problems.

Conclusion

A brain aneurysm is a potentially life-threatening condition that must be diagnosed and treated early to avoid adverse effects of significant proportions. Dr. Sandeep Sharma, being qualified and experienced with over 16 years in intervention, with his team IRFacilities and holding an administrative duty provides exceptional knowledge and endovascular skills in the treatment of aneurysms using the endovascular coiling technique. The team’s loyalty towards patient safety, the use of cutting-edge techniques, and the emphasis on less invasive procedures make the team the ideal for managing and treating brain aneurysms.