Endovascular treatments deal with aneurysms through the blood vessel. A cerebral angiogram is performed, but instead of limiting the procedure to an image of the aneurysm, a catheter is advanced into the blood vessel and coils may be placed directly into the aneurysm.
In some cases, a stent may be used to assist with the treatment of the aneurysm. Most of these procedures are done under general anesthesia. There is no incision in the head and no hair is shaved from the patient’s head.
Patients are observed in a critical care unit after the procedure for 24 hours. If the endovascular treatment is electively done on a non-ruptured aneurysm, the patient can often go home the day after the procedure. If the aneurysm has ruptured, a longer hospital stay is required due to the effects of the initial hemorrhage.