You have been diagnosed with a cerebral aneurysm.

An aneurysm is an abnormal bulgingalong the wall of an artery which couldbleed. The aneurysm results from thecombination of a weakening of the arte-rial wall and a rise of the blood pressure.

Your doctor has recommended anendovascular treatment. This consists offilling the aneurysm with platinum coilsto achieve complete occlusion (to blockthe flow of blood into the bulge).

Endovasculartreatment ofcerebral aneurysmwith platinum coils(GDC)

RisksThe risks of this procedure will beexplained to you beforehand by aneuro-radiologist.

Preparation• Do not eat or drink after midnight the

night before the procedure.

• You will be admitted to the hospitalthe night before your procedure orthe same day.

• Family members may accompany youto the radiology department.

• Upon your arrival a radiology nursewill take care of you.

• The neuro-radiologist and the neuro-anaesthetist will explain the procedureand obtain your consent.

• An intravenous will be inserted in yourarm. Then you will be hooked up tocardiac and blood pressure monitors.Next, the neuro-anaesthetist will startthe sedation.

• A urinary catheter will be insertedafter you are under general anesthesia.

InfoNEUROi

Neuroradiology Department

MontrealNeurologicalHospital

3801 University (corner of Pine Avenue)5th floor, Montreal (Quebec) H3A 2B4

Tel. 398-1910

Artery

Aneurysm(abnormal bulging)

Artery

Aneurysm filled with platinum coils

Catheter

Your doctor has requested that you have an endovascular treatment

Name

Appointment date

Appointment time

Centre universitaire de santé McGillMcGill University Health Centre

Procedure• You will be asleep during the proce-

dure (about 3 hours or more).

• We will insert an introducer (like asmall tube) into the blood vessel ofyour groin. Through this introducer, along catheter will be inserted to reachthe inside of the aneurysm in order tofill it with platinum coils. The intro-

ducer will still be there when youwake up from the general anaesthesia.You should feel a little discomfort atthe groin site but not more.

• The introducer will be removed theday after the procedure by the neuro-radiologist.

After the procedure• You will remain in the recovery room

for about 24 hours with the introduc-er in your groin.

• You must not bend your leg, but thehead of your bed can be raised 30 to40 degrees.

• When the introducer is removed fromyour groin, a pressure dressing isapplied for about 12 hours. At thistime, you can be transferred to yourroom.

• The intravenous can be taken out 2hours later.

• The nurse will check you frequentlyand also verify the pressure dressingfor bleeding or swelling. The pulse inyour foot will be checked to ensureyour circulation is good.

• You must remain in bed for at least 24hours after the introducer has beenremoved.

• However, you can get up to the bath-room 4 hours after.

• You can usually go home the next day(48 hours after the procedure).

Discharge instructions• During the first week, do not lift

heavy objects. The femoral arteryneeds time to heal well.

• You can walk short distances every day.

• Increase your activity every day andlisten to your body for signs offatigue.

• Your physician will tell you when youmay return to work and do your regu-lar activities. (Usually 2 weeks after theprocedure.)

• For the next 6 months, do not takeany medication containing aspirin.

• We recommend that you informhealth professionals that you have acerebral aneurysm that was treatedwith platinum coils.

• Platinum coils are MRI compatible soit is safe for you to have a magneticresonance imaging test, in case youneed one.

For more information call theradiology nurse at (514) 398-1910.

Catheter

Introducer

Neuroradiology DepartmentMontreal Neurological HospitalWritten by Josée Beloin, RN, BSNReviewed by Dr Tampieri, MDInfoNEURO patient guides are produced by the Neuro-Patient ResourceCentre and Montreal Neurological Hospital staff.This information is foreducational purposes only, and is not intended to replace the advice of aprofessional healthcare practitioner, or to substitute for medical care.

This page can be reprinted from the Neuro-Patient Resource Centre website at: http://www.mcgill.ca/mni/neuropatient/index.html

February 2002