There is a temporarily increased risk of stroke after surgery. A few hospitals are performing procedures on ischemic stroke victims similar to angiographies done for angina or heart attacks. An extremely thin catheter tube is inserted into an artery in the groin and threaded through the circulatory system until it reaches the blocked area in the brain. These procedures carry a risk for an embolic stroke. Another experimental procedure rechannels blood back into the brain after a stroke.
Early trials are very promising.
The aim of surgical treatment for hemorrhagic strokes is to repair the aneurysm before it ruptures. Patients should discuss their particular risk factors carefully with their physicians. The standard surgical procedure is to place a clip across the neck of the aneurysm, which blocks off bleeding. Getting to the aneurysm is often extremely difficult. Deep cooling of the body to stop circulation may be used to allow more time for the operation.