What is endovascular coiling?Healthcare providers use endovascular coiling to block blood flow into an aneurysm. This procedure is also called endovascular embolization. An aneurysm is a weakened area in the wall of an artery. If an aneurysm breaks open (ruptures), it can cause life-threatening bleeding and brain damage. Preventing blood flow into an aneurysm helps to keep it from rupturing. Show
For endovascular coiling, the healthcare provider puts a long, thin tube (catheter) into a groin artery. The provider moves the catheter into the affected brain artery and puts the coil in place. X-rays help guide the catheter into the artery. The coils are made of soft platinum metal and are shaped like a spring. The coils are very small and thin. They range in size from about twice the width of a human hair to less than one hair's width. Sometimes coils are used with stents to prevent the coils from moving out of the aneurysm. Healthcare providers also use coiling to treat a condition called arteriovenous malformation (AVM). An AVM is a tangling of blood vessels that cause an abnormal link between an artery and a vein. It may happen in the brain, spinal cord, or elsewhere in the body. Why might I need endovascular coiling?Healthcare providers mainly use coiling to treat a cerebral aneurysm at risk for rupturing. In some cases, they may use it to fix a ruptured aneurysm. There may be other reasons for your healthcare provider to advise a coiling procedure. What are the risks of endovascular coiling?If you are pregnant or think you may be pregnant, tell your healthcare provider. There is a risk for allergic reaction to the dye that's used to see the aneurysm on an X-ray. Tell the radiologist or technologist if you are allergic to or sensitive to medicines, contrast dye, or iodine. Also tell the radiologist if you have kidney failure or other kidney problems. Also tell your healthcare provider if you take anticoagulant (blood-thinning) medicines such as aspirin, warfarin, or clopidogrel. You may need to stop taking these medicines for 1 or more days before the procedure to prevent bleeding. Because the procedure involves the blood vessels and blood flow of the brain, there is a risk for complications involving the brain. These complications may include:
You may have other risks depending on your specific health condition. Discuss any concerns with your healthcare provider before the procedure. How do I get ready for an endovascular coiling?
What happens during an endovascular coiling?You will need to stay in the hospital for a coiling procedure. Procedures may vary depending on your condition and your healthcare provider's practices. Your procedure may be done by 1 or both of these specialists:
During the procedure, you are asleep under general anesthesia. In some situations, it may be done under local anesthesia. Generally, a coiling procedure follows this process:
What happens after an endovascular coiling?In the hospitalAfter the procedure, you may be taken to the recovery room or the intensive care unit (ICU) for observation. If the coiling procedure was done for a ruptured aneurysm, you will most likely be taken to the ICU. If the coiling procedure was done for an unruptured aneurysm and your condition is otherwise stable, you may be able to go home a day or 2 after the procedure. You will remain flat in bed for as long as 12 to 24 hours after the procedure. A nurse will monitor your vital signs, nervous system signs, the insertion site, and circulation or sensation in the affected leg. You may be given pain medicine for pain or discomfort from the procedure or from having to lie flat and still for a long period. You may go back to your usual diet after the procedure, unless your healthcare provider tells you otherwise. Once you have recovered, you may be able to go home, unless your healthcare provider decides otherwise. In some cases after repair for a ruptured aneurysm, you may need to stay at a rehab facility. This is to help you recover from damage caused by the ruptured aneurysm. At homeYou may be advised not to do any strenuous activities. Your healthcare provider will tell you when you can return to work and go back to your normal activities. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any of the following:
Generally, you will need a cerebral angiogram on a schedule after the procedure. This test is done to make sure the coiling is working. The first angiogram may be done about 1 month after the procedure. You may have other cerebral angiograms or other imaging tests such as MRI or MRA. Your healthcare provider will let you know how often you need these. Your healthcare provider may give you other instructions about what you should do after an endovascular coiling. Next stepsBefore you agree to the test or the procedure, make sure you know:
What is the coiling procedure?Coiling involves approaching the aneurysm from inside the blood vessel, so that there is no need to open the skull. Small metal coils are inserted into the aneurysm through the arteries that run from the groin to the brain. The coils remain in the aneurysm; they are not removed.
What does it mean to coil an aneurysm?coiling: a procedure, performed during an angiogram, in which platinum coils are inserted into an aneurysm. embolization: the insertion of material, coils, or glue into an aneurysm so that blood can no longer flow through it.
What are brain aneurysm coils made of?For endovascular coiling, healthcare providers use a catheter, a long, thin tube inserted into a groin artery. The catheter is advanced into the affected brain artery where the coil is deployed. X-rays help guide the catheter into the artery. The coils are made of soft platinum metal, and are shaped like a spring.
What is used for coiling?Copper is the most common of the electrical conducting wires and is the most used for electrical coils. It has low electrical resistance and allows current to easily flow through it. A major factor in its use is that it can be configured and shaped to produce any form of coil.
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