Terms Related to Cerebral Aneurysms
Aneurysm: An abnormal bulging outward of an
artery wall.
Brain Aneurysm: A weak bulging spot on the wall
of the one of the arteries in the brain - also called
an intracranial or cerebral aneurysm.
Catheter: A hollow flexible tube for insertion
into a body cavity, duct, or vessel to allow the passage
of fluids or distend a passageway. Used in the endovascular
treatment of cerebral aneurysms.
Cerebral Aneurysm: A weak bulging spot on the
wall of the brain artery - also called a brain or intracranial
aneurysm.
Craniotomy: Surgical procedure where a section
of the skull cap is temporarily removed during surgery.
Detachable Platinum Coils: Small platinum coils
used to occlude (fill) cerebral aneurysms. The coils
are attached to a delivery wire and are fed through
a microcatheter into the aneurysm. Once properly positioned
within the cerebral aneurysm, the coil is detached from
the delivery wire via electrolytic detachment.
Endovascular: Within the vascular system.
Endovascular embolization: A technique, also
referred to as coiling, that seals off the cerebral
aneurysm and stops further blood from entering into
the aneurysm. This method uses the natural access to
the brain through the bloodstream via arteries to diagnosis
and treat cerebral aneurysms.
Guide Catheters: In the endovascular treatment
of cerebral aneurysms,
these flexible tubes are introduced into the patient's
carotid artery (the principal artery in the neck). Once
positioned in the carotid artery, the guide catheter
functions as a working channel through which smaller
devices, like microcatheters, may be introduced into
the brain.
Guidewire: A thin, usually flexible wire that
can be inserted into a confined or tortuous space to
act as a guide to facilitate passage of instrumentation,
such as a catheter. Used in the endovascular treatment
of cerebral aneurysms.
Hemorrhagic Stroke: A stroke caused by a ruptured
blood vessel and characterized by bleeding within or
surrounding the brain. Subarachnoid hemorrhage from
a ruptured cerebral aneurysm can lead to a hemorrhagic
stroke.
Minimally-Invasive Medical Technologies: Alternatives
to traditional surgery and other medical procedures
that reduce risk, trauma, cost, procedure time and the
need for aftercare. Can be used to treat cerebral aneurysms.
Microcatheter: A very small catheter used to
deliver diagnostic and therapeutic agents such as embolic
devices used in the endovascular treatment of cerebral
aneurysms. Over-the-wire microcatheters are fed along
a guidewire to the area of the body for treatment. Flow-directed
microcatheters utilize the bloodflow within the vessel
to direct the microcatheter through the vascular system.
Subarachnoid Hemorrhage (SAH): When a cerebral
aneurysm ruptures, it causes bleeding into the compartment
surrounding the brain, causing a subarachnoid hemmorhage.
Subarachnoid hemorrhage from a ruptured cerebral aneurysm
can lead to a hemorrhagic stroke, brain damage and death.
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