Specialists at Narayana Multispecialty Hospital, Jaipur used the relatively new ‘flow diverter technology’ to successfully treat a patient suffering from brain aneurysm. An aneurysm (blood filled balloon like bulge) had developed in the patient’s carotid artery which supplies blood to the brain.

The patient, a 57-year-old govt. school teacher from Sikar complained of severe headaches and double vision in the left eye. An MRI and Angiography helped diagnose the problem. The large aneurysm exerted pressure on the nerves of the left eye, which led to the double vision along with difficulty in opening or moving the eye.

For treating an aneurysm, the blood flow into it needs to be disrupted such that it gradually shrinks in size. Multiple treatment options for brain aneurysm are available such as brain surgery (as in aneurysm clipping) and filling the aneurysm with metal coils with or without stenting the affected artery.

“Further investigations were done to find out the size, precise location and blood flow to the aneurysm, which made planning the line of treatment easier. In this case none of the conventional treatment options were feasible as it was a wide-neck aneurysm which would make coiling or regular stenting impractical. The only feasible option was using flow diverter, a relatively new technology”said Dr. Prashant Singh, Interventional Neurologist, Narayana Multispecialty Hospital – Jaipur.

The new technique encourages the blood flowing through the artery to stay within it. It is placed across the origin of the aneurysm and obstructs the blood from entering the bulging aneurysm. As the blood flow into it reduces over time, the aneurysm gradually shrinks in size.

The successful intervention was performed in the cath lab of the hospital using FDA approved Flow diverter (pipeline device). Benefits include increased safety as it eliminates the need for a neuro specialist to enter the aneurysm itself – which is often the riskiest part, shorter recovery time, less chances of recurrence and lower complication rate post procedure. Most patients can return to work within a week’s time following the procedure.

Dr. Mala Airun, Zonal Clinical Director, Narayana Multispeciality Hospital, Jaipur, said, “We at Narayana, we always strive to provide good quality healthcare to the patients, using the latest medical & surgical techniques available. We are happy that we could successfully treat the patient and discharge her within three days of the intervention”

The procedure for curing the life-threatening aneurysm took over 1.5 hours to complete. The patient is recovering well now and her aneurysm related complaints have also substantially reduced.