Aneurysms

Signs and Symptoms
Diagnosis
Treatment

Treatment

Almost all aneurysms need to be treated. The ultimate goal of treatment is to prevent future bleeding while preserving the artery from which the aneurysm originated. At UCSF Children's Hospital, a team of experts specializing in aneurysms that affect blood vessels in the brain works together with you and your family to develop the best possible treatment plan for your child. This team includes a neurologist, neurosurgeon, and neuroradiologist.

In most cases, aneurysms can be successfully treated. A child's prognosis depends on how much bleeding occurred and how their function and consciousness was initially affected by the ruptured aneurysm.

After a child's aneurysm has been treated, future complications can occur. This includes a condition known as vasospasm, in which the blood vessels around the site of the aneurysm clamp down. This can cause a decrease in blood supply to part of the brain, resulting in stroke.

Currently there are two major treatments for brain aneurysms, including:

• Surgery -- Surgery involves placing small, metal clips at the base of the aneurysm at the point where is arises from the artery, while maintaining this artery so that a stroke does not occur. This technique, known as microsurgical clipping, has an excellent success rate. However, some aneurysms cannot be safely clipped and require other surgical procedures, such as vascular bypass grafting. During this procedure, a vein is taken from the leg and hooked up between an artery in the neck and an artery in the brain.

• Endovascular Therapy -- A fairly new alternative to surgery is endovascular treatment of brain aneurysms. This procedure involves placing small, metal coils inside the aneurysm, which helps to prevent further bleeding. It is important to note that although this therapy appears to be safe and effective, there is less experience with this therapy in children.

Reviewed by health care specialists at UCSF Children's Hospital.
Last updated August 15, 2007