How To Treat A Brain Aneurysm

Catheter Or Shunt Surgery

A catheter or shunt surgery can be performed to lessen pressure in the brain that occurs following a ruptured aneurysm. Rather than treating the aneurysm itself, this type of surgery helps drain excess cerebrospinal fluid. During the surgery, the neurosurgeon may place a catheter into the fluid-filled spaces that surround the brain or are inside the brain and spinal cord. This allows the excess fluid to be drained into a bag. In some cases, a shunt system needs to be introduced afterward. This system is made up of a valve and a flexible tube made with silicone and rubber. The goal of the shunt is to create a channel for drainage that begins in the brain and ends in the abdomen, which helps keep fluid from continuing to accumulate following the surgery. The positioning of the catheters will vary depending on the area filled with fluid. Patients may need either lumbar or ventricular draining catheters.

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