The Valley Hospital is now open at 4 Valley Health Plaza in Paramus. (You may need to use 650 Winters Avenue for GPS.) All emergency care is now being provided at this location. Emergency care is no longer available at our Ridgewood campus.
A brain aneurysm is a bulging blood vessel in the brain. It occurs when a thin, weak spot forms along an artery wall. This weak spot may balloon outward and fill with blood. About one in 50 people will develop a brain aneurysm throughout their life time. Most aneurysms remain small and do not burst or cause any symptoms.
However, if an aneurysm ruptures, blood will flow out of that artery and into your brain. This is a life-threatening condition called a hemorrhagic stroke.
Fortunately, with prompt diagnosis and treatment, ruptured aneurysms are survivable for some people. Valley neurosurgeons specialize in innovative treatments, including minimally invasive surgery, that can often prevent aneurysms from rupturing. And this helps you avoid the need for life-saving emergency care.
Watch: Brain aneurysm patient Mariko Takagi and her daughters share how The Valley Hospital worked to quickly diagnose and treat her brain aneurysm.
Many people with brain aneurysms don’t even realize it. Some people find out they have one by accident, during tests for other neurological conditions. Others are unaware until the moment their aneurysm ruptures, causing sudden symptoms.
You may have early signs of an unruptured brain aneurysm if it’s large and presses against a nerve or brain tissue. These early signs include:
If you have an aneurysm that ruptures, you’ll probably develop a sudden, extremely painful headache. People who have experienced this often say it was “the worst headache of their life.” Other symptoms may include:
A ruptured brain aneurysm requires immediate treatment to prevent disability or death. If you or a loved one develop any of the above symptoms, call 911 right away.
Valley neurosurgeons specialize in minimally invasive approaches to treat brain aneurysms.
In these cases, instead of opening your skull we can guide hollow, flexible tubes (catheters) through your blood vessels and into your brain. Once we reach the aneurysm, we can pass tiny tools or devices through the catheter.
These minimally invasive techniques are sometimes referred to as “endovascular” procedures. Valley’s endovascular neurosurgeons are highly experienced in these procedures.
Valley offers all of the latest minimally invasive procedures for brain aneurysms, including:
Watch: Director of Neurointerventional Neurosurgery Dororthea Altschul, MD, discusses how Valley uses minimally invasive techniques to repair unruptured brain aneurysms.
With minimally invasive brain surgery, your recovery is typically faster and includes fewer side effects than open surgery. Here’s what you can expect after minimally invasive brain aneurysm treatment:
Two weeks after surgery, you’ll typically have a follow-up visit with your Valley neurosurgeon.
Minimally invasive surgery may not be right for some people. This is usually due to:
In these cases, brain surgery is still the best option for treating brain aneurysms. Valley neurosurgeons have lots of experience performing “aneurysm clipping,” a procedure with a long track record of safety and success.
Sometimes, you may not need immediate surgery if you have a brain aneurysm. If you have an unruptured brain aneurysm, you and your Valley provider will discuss whether to treat it or keep an eye on it (known as “watchful waiting”). This decision is based on several factors:
Even though it can be scary to know there is a weak blood vessel inside your brain, watchful waiting is common. Not all brain aneurysms will rupture. And a brain aneurysm that is small and doesn’t cause any symptoms may pose fewer health risks than undergoing a procedure to treat it.
