Neurosurgeons at Jefferson Hospital for Neuroscience in Philadelphia are pioneering a new treatment for wide-necked brain aneurysms, which could eventually replace current methods. The liquid embolic (blocking) system, which has been FDA approved for limited trial in the USA, is a potentially exciting breakthrough in aneurysm treatment.
An aneurysm is a weakness in a vessel or artery that causes part of the arterial wall to balloon out. This puts an individual at risk of haemorrhage if the aneurysm bursts. Erol Veznedaroglu at Jefferson is one of the few surgeons selected to trial the use of the liquid embolic system to fill wide-necked aneurysms, which have a wide opening where the aneurysm arises.
Wide-necked aneurysms are relatively uncommon and have previously proved difficult to treat by the traditional method of inserting a coil. This is because the wide opening means the coil can slip out of the aneurysm sac. The new treatment uses a liquid, inserted via a catheter, which solidifies inside the aneurysm and cuts off its blood supply, thus preventing it from increasing in size and rupturing.
As reported on the Science Daily website, Deborah L. August, director of Clinical Research in the department of Neurological Surgery, Jefferson, says, "the potential benefit of the liquid embolic system may be the complete or partial blockage of the blood supply to the aneurysm. It may also help to correct or lessen some symptoms".
Reference
Thomas Jefferson University (2008, February 4). Neurosurgeons Using New Liquid Treatment For Wide-neck Brain Aneurysm. ScienceDaily. Retrieved February 7, 2008
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