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Coiling of brain aneurysms
A guide for patients and carers
What is coiling?
In the 1990’s, coiling was introduced as a way of treating ruptured and unruptured aneurysms without the need for a craniotomy.
Coiling involves approaching the aneurysm from inside the blood vessel, avoiding the need to open the skull. It is a technique where small platinum coils are inserted into the aneurysm through an artery that goes from the groin to the brain.The coils remain ‘anchored’ within the aneurysm and are not removed.They prevent blood flowing into the aneurysm sac and therefore reduce the risk of a bleed.This happens because blood clots around the coils sealing off the weakened area.
The coils are made of platinum and are twice the width of a human hair and can be of different lengths.The number of coils needed depends on the size of the aneurysm.
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