JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A device that treats large brain aneurysms just as effective for treating smaller and sometimes harder to reach aneurysms, according to a study’s findings, which were presented at the International Stroke Conference Houston by Ricardo A. Hanel, MD, PhD, neurovascular surgeon with Baptist Health and Lyerly Neurosurgery and director of the Baptist Neurological Institute.

One hundred and forty-one patients, including 21 patients from Baptist Medical Center in Jacksonville took part in the study.

The treatment involves what’s called a “pipeline,” which is a braided cylindrical mesh. The pipeline is inserted through a microcatheter into an artery in the groin. From there, the pipeline is threaded through the body to the brain.

The device slows the flow of blood into the aneurysm and allows the diseased vessel to heal.

“It creates new membrane from the inside, like a patch from the inside out over time. So it doesn’t allow the blood to flow into the little ball that you see there (to the right). So once the blood can not get there anymore, the problem is fixed,” said Hanel.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the use of the pipeline for adults with large brain aneurysms (greater than 12mm.)

The results will be submitted to the FDA in hopes that the procedure could eventually be used on patients with small- and medium-sized, wide-necked, un-ruptured aneurysms. These types of aneurysms make up the majority of cases.

Read from the Source: Device helps treat all sizes of brain aneurysms