J22 — June 2009 — Aneurysm Surgery

Intro: Brain aneurysms can be very deadly. The ballooning vessel can rupture, leaking blood into your brain. If that happens there's a 60% chance you won't make it. Doctors agree that it's vitally important to fix aneurysms at risk of bleeding. Let's go to Mayo Clinic to learn about a new technique for repairing aneurysms. It's less invasive than traditional surgery and some patients can go home the same day.

"YOU SEE A LITTLE POUCHING RIGHT THERE? THAT'S THE ANEURYSM."

DR. RICARDO HANEL IS PERFORMING A CEREBRAL ANGIOGRAM TO LOCATE AND DIAGNOSE ANEURYSMS IN THIS WOMAN'S BRAIN.

"AN ANEURYSM IS WHAT WE DESCRIBE AS A BLISTER ON A VESSEL WALL."

THIS PATIENT HAS THREE ANEURYSMS. AND LESLIE BRAUN SAYS LIVING WITH THE KNOWLEDGE THAT THEY COULD RUPTURE AT ANY TIME IS HORRIFYING.

"WONDERING WHETHER YOU'RE GOING TO WAKE UP IN THE MORNING OR IF ONE IS GOING TO BURST AND THAT WOULD BE IT. BECAUSE I WAS TOLD IF THE BIGGER ONE HAD BURST I WOULDN'T HAVE MADE IT TO THE HOSPITAL."

BUT INSTEAD OF OPEN BRAIN SURGERY TO FIX HER LARGE ANEURYSM, DR. HANEL USED ANOTHER, MUCH LESS INVASIVE TECHNIQUE. NO SCALPELS AND CLAMPS, JUST WIRE COILS.

"THE COIL IS NOTHING MORE THAN A WIRE, A PLATINUM WIRE THAT YOU CAN DETACH AND LEAVE BEHIND INSIDE THE ANEURYSM."

DURING THE PROCEDURE DR. HANEL INSERTS A CATHETER AND GUIDES IT TO THE SITE OF THE ANEURYSM. ONCE THERE HE RUNS THE WIRE TO THAT SITE AND COILS IT LIKE A BIRD'S NEST IN THE BALLOONING VESSEL. OVER TIME, THE PATIENT'S BLOOD CLOTS ONTO THE COIL, PREVENTING BLOOD FROM POOLING THERE.

"IT IS EXTREMELY EFFECTIVE AND VERY SAFE FOR PATIENTS."

AND MUCH EASIER ON THE PATIENTS THAN STANDARD BRAIN SURGERY. JUST HOURS AFTER HER PROCEDURE, LESLIE IS GOING HOME, SAFE FROM THE POSSIBILITY OF A RUPTURED ANEURYSM. FOR MEDICAL EDGE, I'M VIVIEN WILLIAMS.

Anchor tag: Dr. Hanel says while this procedure is a good option for many patients, it may not work for everyone. Some aneurysms are only accessible through open surgery.

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