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Brain Aneurysm Treatments

Unparalleled Brain Aneurysm Treatments from Georgia's Top-Rated Hospital

Emory Neurosurgery specializes in treating unruptured and ruptured brain aneurysms. We are ranked among the best in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. Emory is one of the leading and most experienced medical centers in the nation for treatment of ruptured and unruptured brain aneurysms. Many surgical and endovascular techniques to treat brain aneurysms were pioneered at Emory.

Our collaborative and interdisciplinary team of physicians uses the latest technological advances to deliver cutting-edge care to patients with brain aneurysms.

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How Do You Treat a Brain Aneurysm?

Treatment for a brain aneurysm is highly individualized and depends on whether the aneurysm is ruptured or not as well as patient age, medical history and other aneurysm factors. You and your doctor will decide what is best for you.

We are here to help. A team of trusted experts offers the highest quality care and support sensitive to the needs of you and your loved ones.

How to Treat an Unruptured Aneurysm

Many small brain aneurysms are low risk and do not require treatment. Your doctor may decide your aneurysm does not need neurosurgery. Instead, your doctor may recommend regular checkups to monitor for changes.


If your aneurysm is larger or located in high-risk areas of the brain, your doctor may give you treatment options, including:

  • Your doctor inserts a catheter (a soft, flexible tube) into the artery of the leg (femoral artery) or arm (radial artery) and navigates it into the brain to perform aneurysm treatments in a minimally invasive way.

    • Endovascular coiling: Through this catheter, they pack the aneurysm with tiny metal coils to block further blood flow. After treatment, you'll stay in the hospital overnight and go home the next day.

    • Flow diversion: The catheter is used to deliver a stent (a small, flexible metal tube) across the opening of the aneurysm to direct blood flow around it and heal the aneurysm over time.

    • Intrasaccular devices: A catheter is used to deliver a soft metal mesh device into the aneurysm to trap blood and heal the aneurysm over time. 

  • Your surgeon performs a craniotomy (a surgical procedure to expose the brain and arteries of the brain) to place a clip at the base of the aneurysm, preventing blood flow into the aneurysm and immediately curing it. Some complex aneurysms require additional steps, such as bypass and clipping. These are complicated surgical procedures that require tremendous expertise and experience and are best performed at leading aneurysm centers.

Both endovascular treatment and surgery effectively treat the aneurysm and Emory has vast experience with all of these techniques, many of which we helped to pioneer.

How to Treat a Ruptured Aneurysm

A ruptured aneurysm is a life-threatening emergency that requires immediate treatment. A ruptured brain aneurysm has a 50% chance of rupturing again in the 6 months after the initial bleeding. Surgery or catheter intervention is done to prevent a second rupture and further damage to your brain.

When Should I Seek Help for an Aneurysm?

Call 9-1-1 immediately if you or a loved one experiences the following:

  • Sudden onset of severe headache—worst of your life
  • Sudden BE-FAST symptoms:
    • B - Balance loss
    • E - Eyesight problems
    • F - Facial droop
    • A - Arm or leg weakness
    • S - Speech trouble
    • T - Time to call 9-1-1

If you have been newly diagnosed with a brain aneurysm or want follow-up on a known brain aneurysm, you should request your primary care doctor to refer you to Emory Neurosurgery.

Brain Aneurysm

Brain aneurysms are often found when evaluating an unrelated symptom, but there are certain risk factors to be aware of.

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Refer a Patient to Emory Neurology & Neurosurgery

Our team is dedicated to serving you and your patients.

To make a referral or discuss a neurology patient, please call 404-778-3444.

For our neurosurgery team, please call 404-778-5770.

Neurology & Neurosurgery

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Make an Appointment with Emory Neurology & Neurosurgery

Create a MyChart account to schedule online.

For the neurology department, call 404-778-3444.

For the neurosurgery department, call 404-778-5770.

network_intelligence

Make an Appointment with Emory Neurology & Neurosurgery

Create a MyChart account to schedule online.

For the neurology department, call 404-778-3444.

For the neurosurgery department, call 404-778-5770.