for aneurysm treatments is the new WEB device
Nancy Skoog–Edholm didn’t know five years ago that she had two brain aneuries. She began to feel sick.
She recalled that she had a terrible headache and that her font-weight was 400 ;”>” “I felt very weak. “I felt really weak.
At Abbott Dr. Yasha Jayan, a neurointerventional radioologistspan styling=”font-weight 400 ;”>, met Skoog–Edholm at the emergency room. To determine if her aneurysms have ruptured, he advised her to undergo a lumbar puncture. This could be potentially fatal. A rupture would indicate that blood was present in her spinal fluid.
Although the lab determined that Skoog Edholm had no blood in her spinal fluid, they discovered that Skoog Edholm had viral Meningitis. Although this was not a cause for concern, it alerted doctors to the existence of aneurysms.
Brain aneurysms are often found during tests for unrelated conditions. A ruptured brain aneurysm could be life-threatening. Kayan said that it is rare to find an unruptured aneurysm.
Skoog Edholm was informed by Kayan that her aneurysms had not ruptured and she could wait for her symptoms to clear before beginning treatment. He said that he would fill her smaller aneurysms with a coil when she felt better. This is a non-invasive procedure which was developed in the late 1990s. Kayan used a series soft platinum coils to slow blood flow, creating a clot which allowed for the formation of a new blood vessel. This procedure is not without risk and can take up to three hours.
Another option for treatment
Kayan was aware of another option Kayan wanted to use for Skoog Edholm’s larger aneurysm. This was the Woven EndoBridge or WEB device. Although it was close to FDA approval, it wasn’t yet made available.
Kayan explained that the WEB device works “a bit differently” from a coil procedure. Instead of inserting small coils, the WEB device is a single device. A mesh basket emerges from microsheaths in a collapsed state. Then it opens into an aneurysm, hugging its walls like a flower. Kayan stated that coils can sometimes fall out, posing a risk of stroke and hemorhage. However, the WEB device is stable: “It serves to be a scaffold for vessel walls.”
Kayan stated that patients are able to benefit from the WEB device’s speed and ability to fill the artery faster. They are able to use the device faster, and there is less chance of clots forming on them. Skoog Edholm is a good candidate.
Kayan called Skoog Edholm to tell her the good news after the FDA approved the WEB device just a few months later.
Skoog Edholm stated that she was thrilled to hear that the font-weight for her first aneurysm was 400 ;”>” Although her first aneurysm was treated with coils, she had to recover from it. She hoped for a better outcome the second time.
First choice at Abbott
Kayan, a neurointerventional radiology colleague at Abbott Northwestern, now see the WEB device as their first choice for treating aneurysms. Kayan stated that WEB is still considered a niche device by many medical practices, but he and his team consider it a game-changer for patients with aneurysms.
He said that he used it in many types of anatomies. It is safer than other techniques, which is why we use it. It works in many situations and has been proven effective by our experience.
Kayan said that, in addition to the shorter time required for surgery (“You can go into, deposit one device, and you’re done,” Kayan explained. Kayan also noted that the WEB device has a better safety profile than coils. He said that while brain aneurysms used to have a 2 to 3 percent stroke risk and the highest-risk aneurysms had an average risk of a 5 percent stroke, the WEB device has a lower risk.
Kayan stated that brain aneurysms are more common than people realize. Kayan explained that doctors find around 30,000 brain aneurysms each year. He explained that most brain aneurysms do not rupture. His colleagues and he work together with patients to explain the benefits and risks of treatment.
Kayan stated that there is a small risk of aneurysms rupturing. “With those, the chance of rupture is low and it’s probably not worth the treatment,” Kayan said. Patients with low risk of rupture are placed on the surveillance program. They recommend treatment for patients with intermediate risk of rupture, such as Skoog Edholm.
Back at normal
Skoog Edholm was terrified to hear that she had suffered two brain aneurysms. She said, “I was walking on eggshells.” “I was always monitoring my blood pressure and trying to keep myself safe span>
She is an avid horseback rider and said that she kept her feet on ground until both aneurysm procedures were complete. She said she had to take extra time to recover from her coil procedure but that she felt much better once the WEB device was in.
Skoog Edholm stated that he is back riding his horse and has used the span style=”font weight: 400 ;”>” The procedure was very smooth. I felt less tired and groggy than with the previous one. The pain was also minimal.”
Skoog Edholm has a low risk of suffering strokes or other side effects from these procedures. Kayan has scheduled Kayan for an annual MRI check to ensure that her aneurysms are still under control. She said that she is relieved to be at the end of this troubling chapter in her life.
“After I get my MRI,” Skoog-Edholm explained, “Dr. Kayan examines it, and then he sends me a letter. I would rather be riding my horse span>
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