• A brain aneurysm is a weak bulging spot on the wall of a brain artery caused by irregular blood flow patterns in the vessels of the brain. Brain aneurysms often rupture and hemorrhage into the brain. Bleeding from a ruptured brain aneurysm can lead to a hemorrhagic stroke, brain damage and even death.

  • It is estimated that up to 18 million people have unruptured aneurysms and that every year more than 30,000 Americans suffer from a brain hemorrhage.1 The total cost of all traumatic brain injuries, including brain aneurysms, in the United States is estimated to be $48.3 billion annually.2

  • Endovascular coiling is a minimally invasive procedure that accesses the brain aneurysm through the leg artery. The doctor then places small platinum coils through a tube into the aneurysm. The coiling procedure is intended to reduce the aneurysm’s risk of rupture or re-bleeding.

  • Studies have shown that endovascular coiling, in comparison to surgical clipping, have a lower rate of in-hospital deaths and adverse events, shorter recovery times and on average cost significantly less.


     

    Surgical Clipping/Craniotomy

    Endovascular Coiling

    Hospital Stay

    		 9.6 days 4.6 days3

    Total Recovery Time

    		 1 year 27 days4

    Cost

    		 $43,000 $30,0003

    OR Time

    		 4-6 hours5 2 hours6

    Complications
    • 18.5% of procedures have adverse outcomes
    • 2.3% of procedures cause in-hospital death
    • 10.6% of procedures have adverse outcomes
    • 0.4% of procedures cause in-hospital death3

       

      1. Boston Scientific. “Stroke and aneurysm fact sheet.”

      2. Brain Injury Association of America. “Statistics on Traumatic Brain Injury costs.” http://www.adap.net/tbi/braininjury.pdf (17 April 2006).

      3. Johnston S, et al. “Surgical and Endoivascular Treatement of Unruptured Cerebral Aneurysms at University Hospital.” Neurology 52 (1999):1799-1805.

      4. Johnston S, et al. “Endovascular and surgical treatment of unruptured aneurysms: Comparison of risks.” Annals of Neurology 48 (2000):11-19.

      5. Chicago Institute of Neurosurgery and Nueroresearch. “Information about Craniotomies.” http://www.cinn.org/treattech/craniotomy.html (20 April 2006).

      6. Sacred Heart Neuroscience Center. “About Endovascular Coiling.” http://www.inlandneuro.org/gdc_coil_full.htm (20 April 2006).
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