Brain Aneurysm Treatment

Treatment of brain aneurysm in Israel at Herzliya Medical Center by leading neurosurgeons using the most advanced diagnostic and neurosurgical procedures, expanding options for safe and minimally invasive treatment available to patients with vascular pathologies. Specialists at HMC in Israel have mastered unique microsurgical techniques, as well as endovascular and robotic procedures that minimize the risk of complications.

What is a Cerebral Aneurysm?

A cerebral aneurysm (intracranial aneurysm or brain aneurysm) is a bulging and thinning of the vessel wall of the brain. An aneurysm is a weak portion of the blood vessel, that with increased blood pressure and smooth muscle spasm may cause spontaneous rupture and the development of dangerous cerebral intracranial bleeding, depending on the location of the aneurysm. A ruptured aneurysm – known as the main cause of hemorrhagic stroke and considered life-threatening, often putting the patient at risk of a severe and irreversible neurological disorder as a result.

Cerebral aneurysms can develop during the development of a fetus in utero and can be the result of an inherited genetic mutation. Those at higher risk of aneurysm development include those who suffer from autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease and those with Marfan syndrome. Among the most common causes of aneurysm are the following:

• Hypertonic disease
• Traumatic brain injury
• Infectious diseases such as that of the meninges (meningitis), or parenchymal brain (encephalitis)
• Alcoholism
• Drug use
• Cerebral atherosclerosis
• Lipid metabolism disorders
• Aneurysms can occur at any age but are most common in women than in men, and people over the age of 40.

Cerebral Aneurysm Symptoms

A small brain aneurysm will not cause significant symptoms and is often incidentally diagnosed when the brain is screened or examined, in cases of other health complications in the brain, when bleeding or a rupture has been discovered.

Larger aneurysms are also accompanied by nonspecific symptoms, yet are often linked to mechanical pressure on surrounding tissue. The following symptoms require a differential diagnosis in order to exclude vascular pathology:

• Prolonged headaches, neck pain, and migraine in the eyebrow region
• Increased sensitivity to light
• Blurred vision (diplopia, loss of visual field)
• The disabled function of the upper eyelid
• Dizziness
• Recurring bouts of nausea and vomiting unrelated to eating
• Weakness and/or loss of feeling in the extremities
• Pain or inability to move one side of the face (stroke-like symptoms)
• Difficulty speaking and swallowing
• Seizures and/or convulsions
• Fainting

The symptoms listed above are unable to conclusively establish the diagnosis of a brain aneurysm, although experts take all symptoms into consideration, which aid in additional research methods that may be appropriate in order to avoid the threat of developing the disease.

Cerebral Aneurysm Diagnosis at HMC

Precise Diagnosis of a cerebral aneurysm at HMC in Israel is conducted to create the most effective precise treatment plan. Traditional methods of brain imaging, such as Computerized Tomography (CT) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) helps distinguish abnormally expanded portions of the blood vessel. Diagnosis may also include more specialized protocols, such as CT angiography to precisely determine the size and thickness of the vascular wall, as well as the location of the aneurysm. Tomographic imaging helps neurosurgeons not only to diagnose but also to assess the degree of risk, as well as the greater access to the aneurysm with a view of its location for removal. In some cases, suspected bleeding in the subarachnoid space (under the arachnoid of the brain) is an important indicator of potential lumbar puncture.

Cerebral Brain Aneurysm Surgery at HMC

The main methods of surgical treatment include clipping and embolization (coiling) of cerebral aneurysms. Surgical procedure depends primarily on the size and location of the cerebral aneurysm. The Department of Neurosurgery at HMC in Israel offers a variety of modern procedures, some of which are as follows:

• Surgical clipping of brain aneurysm. Microsurgical procedures impose on the region of the neck (base) of the aneurysm site with a titanium clip. The clip stops blood flow in the cavity of the aneurysm, causing it to narrow and subsequently be replaced by connective tissue. The possibility of a brain aneurysm clipping requires confirmation of anatomical location and security of open access to the affected artery
• Embolization of brain aneurysm (endovascular coil embolization or endovascular coiling). A minimally invasive procedure in which an intravascular catheter is inserted under fluoroscopic guidance into the cavity of the aneurysm and a spiral-implant into the vessel reduces the amount of blood flow. Embolization of brain aneurysm excludes it from the bloodstream, preventing rupture and intracerebral hemorrhage
• Endovascular treatments with a stent that regulates blood flow. During this procedure, a stent is inserted into the affected artery, reducing blood flow in the aneurysm. This Surgical procedure is combined with a spiral endovascular embolization, which prevents the spirals from blocking the blood vessel
• Occlusion and bypass surgery. Often recommended for treatment of medium and large-sized aneurysms located in the cerebral circulatory vessels. During this microsurgical procedure, the aneurysm is occluded to the affected area and a bypass is performed in order to maintain the total volume of blood flow in the arteries

Neurosurgeons at Herzliya Medical Center utilize minimally invasive endovascular techniques to diagnose and treat brain aneurysms with proven high efficacy and safety.

Advanced diagnostic and neurosurgical procedures for cerebral aneurysm (brain aneurysm) treatment by leading neurosurgeons at Herzliya Medical Center.