Information for the public

This procedure works well for intracranial aneurysms and there are no serious concerns about its safety.

An intracranial aneurysm is a bulge in a blood vessel in the brain caused by a weakness in the blood vessel wall. In this procedure, a wire-mesh device is inserted through a thin tube (catheter) into the brain via a large blood vessel (that is, endovascularly) in the groin. It is guided into the aneurysm sac (intrasaccular). The device is left in place and acts as a plug when a blood clot forms inside it. The aim is to block the flow of blood into the aneurysm to reduce the chance of it rupturing or to stop further bleeding from an aneurysm that has already ruptured.

The NHS website may be a good place to find out more. NICE’s information on interventional procedures guidance has more about what a procedure is and how we assess them.

Is this procedure right for me?

If you’ve been offered this procedure, your healthcare professionals should discuss with you what is involved, and tell you about the risks and benefits. They should talk with you about your options, and listen carefully to your views and concerns. Your family can be involved too, if you wish. All of this should happen before you agree (consent) to have the procedure. You should also be told how to find more information about the procedure. Read more about making decisions about your care.

Some questions to think about

  • What does the procedure involve?
  • What are the possible benefits? How likely am I to get them?
  • What are the risks or side effects? How likely are they?
  • What happens if the procedure doesn’t work or something goes wrong?
  • What happens if I don’t want the procedure? Are there other treatments available?

ISBN: 978-1-4731-3484-3


This page was last updated: