Anyone with a chronic pseudoaneurysm?

[wildcat32]

Hello, I would appreciate any advice anyone could offer. Sorry this is long. I had a mini-stroke April 23 due to a spontaneous left internal carotid artery dissection. At that time a 6 x 9 mm pseudoaneurysm developed at the dissection. I saw a neurologist in Atlanta who ordered a MRI/MRA. He called back with the results and said the results only showed the dissection and would follow up in December. I requested a copy of the results which said the dissection was there along with a 8 x 15 mm chronic pseudoaneurysm and Chiari malformation. Since the neurologist did not tell me these things I felt I needed to contact a neurosurgeon myself.
I scheduled an appointment with a neurosurgeon in Atlanta who looked at my Mri and said I need surgery to either stent and coil the aneurysm or to sacrifice the carotid cartery. I had an angiogram October 22. The angiogram showed the pseudoaneursym was still there and I had 50% stenosis in the carotid artery. The neurosurgeon decides not to do any surgery because he called the neurologist I first saw and the neurologist feels surgery isnt necessary because the risk outweighs the benefits and the chance of rupture is small. I was told I would need another angoigram in 6 months and if nothing changes I would have to have a MRI/Mra in 2 years after that.
Everything I have read on the internet says surgery is necessary. Anyone with any experience with the pseudoaneurysm? I am really not comfortable with these two doctors lack of care.

[Mom2Ava]

What is a pseudoaneurysm exctly?

I have this bulbous vessel thing I need to f/u on and probably have chiari as well.

[FireflyR7]

Hi hun, I don't know much about that but, I found a site for you to look up?? I hope it helps! ;) Welcome to the site, hopefully someone will write that has the same thing?? I will keep you in my prayers! Tricia

http://depts.washington.edu/neurosur/ptcare/sekhar_ptcare.html

[Nippet]

I also have chiari malformation and had a pseudoaneurysm of the right internal carotid artery repaired with a stent last December (it was also refered as a dissecting aneurysm). I have one more that they are monitoring, had one sacular in the right communicating artery coiled several years ago and then recoiled with a stent this past July. I have a stent in my right carotid artery which was dissected during an angiogram last December. From what I was told, they can only be repaired with a covered stent. The one of mine that is being monitored is because it is in a bend in the artery and there is no covered stent flexible enough at this time to repair it. Did they suggest surgery to repair the chiari malformation?

[wildcat32]

Actually I had to find a different neurosurgeon about the Chiari because they would not even order a MRI of my spine. The neuro for the Chiari feels surgery isn't necessary now for it but wants me to have yearly MRI so he can keep an eye on it.
I was supposed to have the Enterprise stent put in until the neurologist decided surgery wasn't needed now. I am really not comfortable with the neurosurgeon saying I needed the surgery and then changing his mind based on the opinion of a neurologist who couldnt be bothered to tell me about the Chiari or the pseudoaneurysm. Could anyone suggest doctors who will give their opinion if I send copies of my medical records?

Thanks for all your help.