Intra vascular coiling
Intra vascular coiling, also called endovascular embolization, is used by healthcare providers to block blood flow into an aneurysm.
Some facts about Intra vascular coiling:
- An aneurysm is a area in the wall of an artery that is generally weakened.
- It can cause life-threatening bleeding and brain damage if an aneurysm ruptures.
- Blood flow into an aneurysm can be prevented that helps to keep it from rupturing.
- A catheter, which a long, thin tube is inserted into a groin artery for endovascular coiling.
- The catheter will be advanced into the affected brain artery where the coil is deployed.
- X-rays will be used to help guide the catheter into the artery.
- The coils are very small and thin and are made of soft platinum metal, and are shaped like a spring.
- Coiling is also used to treat a condition called arteriovenous malformation, or AVM which is an abnormal connection between an artery and a vein.
Preparation for Intra vascular coiling:
- Your healthcare provider should be informed if you have ever had a reaction to any contrast dye, or if you are allergic to iodine.
- Your healthcare provider should also be informed if you are sensitive to or are allergic to any medicines, latex, tape, or anesthetic agents (local and general).
- You need to fast for a few hours or overnight depending on the condition.
- Inform your healthcare provider of all medicines including prescribed and over-the-counter and herbal supplements that you are taking.
- Your healthcare provider should be informed about any history of bleeding disorders or if you are taking any anticoagulant (blood-thinning) medicines, aspirin, or other medicines that affect blood clotting as it may be necessary for you to stop these medicines before the procedure.
- A blood test may be performed before the procedure to determine how long it takes your blood to clot.
Procedure for Intra vascular coiling:
- Empty your bladder prior to the start of the procedure.
- You will be positioned on your back on the X-ray table and an intravenous (IV) line will be started in your hand or arm.
- An electrocardiogram (ECG) monitor will be connected with you that records the electrical activity of the heart.
- All of your vital signs such as heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing rate and neurological signs will be monitored during the procedure.
- A catheter will be inserted into your bladder to drain urine.
- Your pulses below the groin site where the catheter will be inserted will be checked and marked with a marker to check the circulation to the limb below the site after the procedure.
- The skin over the injection site will be cleansed and a local anesthetic will be injected.
- A small cut will be made in the skin to expose the artery in the groin and a catheter will be inserted into the artery in your groin using a guide wire.
- Fluoroscopy is used to guide the catheter through the blood vessel into the brain.
- Contrast dye will be injected to make the aneurysm and surrounding blood vessels visible on X-ray once the catheter has been guided to the affected artery in the brain.
- The aneurysm will be measured and its shape as well as other characteristics will be recorded.
- A smaller catheter will be then inserted into the initial catheter.
- The healthcare provider will manipulate the coil into the aneurysm once the catheter has reached the aneurysm.
- The coil is separated from the catheter when the coil has been completely inserted into the aneurysm.
- As many coils as needed will be inserted to completely seal off the aneurysm which will form a mesh-like structure inside the aneurysm.
- Additional X-ray images will be taken to make sure the aneurysm has been sealed off after the aneurysm has been 'packed' with coils.
- The coil will be left in place permanently in the aneurysm.
- The catheter will be removed once the aneurysm has been sealed off.
- A dressing will be applied after the insertion site stops bleeding.
