In a remarkable medical advancement at a Chennai hospital, a 60-year-old woman's life-threatening brain aneurysm was successfully repaired through an innovative wrist-based approach, completely avoiding the need for invasive open brain surgery or the conventional groin route. The patient arrived at the hospital unconscious after experiencing a severe headache, with her blood pressure dangerously elevated at 230/140 mmHg, far above the normal range of 120/80 mmHg.
Diagnosis of a Critical Condition
Medical scans quickly identified the cause of her condition: bleeding from a wide-necked aneurysm. This type of aneurysm is characterized by a balloon-like bulge in a blood vessel that becomes particularly vulnerable to rupture when internal pressure increases, posing a significant risk of stroke or fatal hemorrhage.
Innovative Surgical Technique
A specialized medical team, led by renowned cerebrovascular neurosurgeon and neurointerventionist Dr Muralidharan Vetrivel, performed a cutting-edge procedure known as right transradial WEB embolisation. The team carefully threaded an ultra-thin catheter through the radial artery in the patient's wrist, navigating it all the way to the brain's affected blood vessel.
Once positioned precisely at the aneurysm site, doctors deployed a sophisticated device called the Woven EndoBridge (WEB) directly inside the aneurysm. This implant functions by sealing the aneurysm from within, effectively isolating it from the bloodstream. Over time, the aneurysm will naturally clot, gradually shrink in size, and become biologically inactive, eliminating the risk of future rupture.
Patient Recovery and Medical Implications
The patient has shown excellent progress following the procedure and has already been moved out of the Intensive Care Unit. Dr Muralidharan Vetrivel emphasized that while she is recovering well, she will require approximately three weeks of hospital care with strict blood pressure management and optimized medication regimens to ensure complete healing.
Dr Mohamed Rela, chairman of the hospital, highlighted the significant advantages of this wrist-based approach. He noted that compared to traditional methods, this technique can substantially shorten recovery periods and reduce potential complications, offering patients a safer and less traumatic alternative for treating complex cerebrovascular conditions.
This medical achievement represents an important step forward in neurointerventional procedures, demonstrating how minimally invasive techniques can effectively address serious brain conditions while improving patient outcomes and quality of life during recovery.
