Cerebral aneurysm coiling
Packing an aneurysm until blood no longer enters it.
Endovascular coiling seals a brain aneurysm from inside the blood vessel. Soft platinum coils are packed into the aneurysm through a micro-catheter, so blood no longer enters the weak pouch — without opening the skull.
What patients call it
Coiling of a brain aneurysm
At a glance
- What it does
- Packing an aneurysm until blood no longer enters it.
- Used for
- Ruptured and unruptured brain aneurysm · Brain AVM and dural fistula · Carotid cavernous fistula
- How it is done
- The cerebral aneurysm fills under pressure. → A microcatheter is navigated to the neck of the sac. → Soft platinum coils are packed into the aneurysm.
- Recovery
- Procedure: Day 0 - Sac packed with coils. 24-48 hours in ICU for observation. · Day 1-3: Discharged from ICU. Regular neurological checks.
Used for
- — Ruptured and unruptured brain aneurysm
- — Brain AVM and dural fistula
- — Carotid cavernous fistula
Symptoms & Causes
Symptoms
- — Sudden, extremely severe headache ('thunderclap')
- — Nausea and vomiting
- — Stiff neck
- — Blurred or double vision
- — Sensitivity to light
Common Causes
- — Weakness in the artery wall
- — High blood pressure
- — Smoking
- — Genetic predisposition
Diagnosis & Treatment
How it is diagnosed
- — CT Scan / CTA
- — MRI / MRA
- — Digital Subtraction Angiography (DSA)
The Procedure
- — Access via the femoral or radial artery.
- — Microcatheter placement in the aneurysm sac.
- — Packing the sac with platinum coils.
- — Promoting blood to clot and seal the aneurysm.
Recovery & Benefits
- Procedure: Day 0 - Sac packed with coils. 24-48 hours in ICU for observation.
- Day 1-3: Discharged from ICU. Regular neurological checks.
- 1-2 Weeks: Gradual return to light activity and routine lifestyle resume.
- 1 Month: Follow-up imaging and normal life.
Procedure sequence
- 01
The cerebral aneurysm fills under pressure.
- 02
A microcatheter is navigated to the neck of the sac.
- 03
Soft platinum coils are packed into the aneurysm.
- 04
Blood can no longer enter the sac.
- 05
The treatment is completed through a single puncture.
Questions patients ask
Is coiling better than clipping for a brain aneurysm?+
Neither is better for every aneurysm. Coiling avoids opening the skull and generally means faster recovery; the choice depends on the aneurysm's size, shape, position and the patient's condition.