Cerebral aneurysm coiling
Packing an aneurysm until blood no longer enters it.
Patient education from the practice of Dr. Mandeep Sagar. This guide does not replace individual medical advice. About Dr. Mandeep Sagar
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.