Aneurysm patients have multiple life-saving treatment options

June 30, 2009, WILKES-BARRE – A sudden, severe headache, nausea or vomiting and neck pain could be warning signs that someone is experiencing a ruptured brain aneurysm, a neurological condition that impacts up to one in 15 people in the United States. Ruptured aneurysms, a form of stroke, cause blood to be released into the skull and may cause brain damage or even death.

Local patients have options for aneurysm treatment at Geisinger. Traditionally, treatment for aneurysms has been open surgery that requires a neurosurgeon to open the skull and place a titanium clip at the neck of the aneurysm to stop the bleeding.

The main goal of treatment once an aneurysm has ruptured is to stop the bleeding and decrease potential permanent damage to the brain.

“While we continue to practice open surgery, patients also now have the option of a less invasive procedure called coil embolization,” said David Carrington, M.D., director of neuroendovascular services at Geisinger Health System.

Through an incision in the groin – no bigger than the tip of a pen - a tiny tube called a microcatheter is navigated into the blood vessels of the brain. Platinum coils are then packed into the aneurysm  through the microcatheter to block the weakened area and stabilize the aneurysm.

“Coil embolization is a minimally invasive approach that allows patients to spend less time in the hospital and recover more quickly, often with less pain,” said Dr. Carrington. “While coil embolization isn’t right for every patient, Geisinger patients benefit from access to internationally trained experts and the latest techniques so patients can be assessed and treated with the best option given their specific health situation,” he said. 

Awareness of symptoms and timely evaluation is essential. People with any of the following symptoms should seek treatment immediately:

• Sudden, severe headache
• Nausea and vomiting
• Stiff neck
• Blurred or double vision
• Sensitivity to light
• Dilated pupils
• Loss of sensation

Dr. Carrington noted that aneurysms might often be found before they rupture. Unruptured aneurysms can be treated in much the same manner as ruptured aneurysms however, some unruptured aneurysms may not need treatment. All aneurysms should be appropriately evaluated by fellowship-trained neurosurgeons specializing in skull base surgery and neuroendovascular care.

Facts about brain aneurysm
As reported by www.brainaneurysm.com

• Approximately 2 to 3 percent of people with a brain aneurysm may suffer from bleeding each year.
• The annual incidence in the United States exceeds 30,000 people. Ten to 15 percent of these patients will die before reaching the hospital and more than 50 percent will die within the first 30 days after rupture. Of those who survive, about half suffer some permanent neurological deficit.
• Brain aneurysms can occur in people of all ages, but are most commonly detected in those ages 35 to 60.
• Women are actually three times more likely to develop a brain aneurysm than men.

About Geisinger Health System
Founded in 1915, Geisinger Health System (Danville, PA) is one of the nation’s largest integrated health services organizations.  Serving more than two million residents throughout central and northeastern Pennsylvania, the physician-led organization is at the forefront of the country's rapidly emerging electronic health records movement. Geisinger is comprised of two medical center campuses, three hospitals, a 740-member group practice, a not-for-profit health insurance company and the Henry Hood Center for Health Research—dedicated to creating innovative new models for patient care, satisfaction and clinical outcomes. For more information, visit www.geisinger.org.