Clipping needed after coiling???

[DadsGrl]

My Dad suffered a brain aneurysm about four months ago and coiling was performed. He recently went to his first follow up angiogram during which it was discovered that the coils had begun to compact. Last week he had a CT angiogram and his doctor said that a neck has formed. The doctor has offered three choices:

Do nothing. Do best to control blood pressure, stress, etc. and monitor aneurysm
Perform clipping - recommended by Dr
Redo coiling - not recommended; DR doesn't think it would be effective

The doctor suggested we consider all options and think about the decision for about a week.

My Dad is afraid that another surgery will be a huge setback and he will have to start recovery all over again. Also there are several risks involved with the surgery. On the other hand, he doesn't want to wait for a bomb to explode. We are trying to weigh out the risks of doing nothing and possibly suffering another rupture vs surgery.

Has anyone else experienced this??? Any words of advice???

[hattyuk]

Hi I had ruptured annie in September 05 and it was only partially clipped due to the position of it I believe, although i wasn't aware of this, so when I returned for an angiogram in April I was devestated to find that it needed coiling. Sometimes I guess the 2 procedures are used to fully treat the annie. you need to weigh up pros and cons with your neurologist, but at all costs rupture should be avoided.
my thoughts and prayers are with your family at this difficult time
hatty xx

[snapdragon]

My Dad suffered a brain aneurysm about four months ago and coiling was performed. He recently went to his first follow up angiogram during which it was discovered that the coils had begun to compact. Last week he had a CT angiogram and his doctor said that a neck has formed. The doctor has offered three choices:

Do nothing. Do best to control blood pressure, stress, etc. and monitor aneurysm
Perform clipping - recommended by Dr
Redo coiling - not recommended; DR doesn't think it would be effective

The doctor suggested we consider all options and think about the decision for about a week.

My Dad is afraid that another surgery will be a huge setback and he will have to start recovery all over again. Also there are several risks involved with the surgery. On the other hand, he doesn't want to wait for a bomb to explode. We are trying to weigh out the risks of doing nothing and possibly suffering another rupture vs surgery.

Has anyone else experienced this??? Any words of advice???

My heart and prayers go out to your Dad and your family . I have not suffered a rupture,I had clipping surgery ,but I waited 2 yrs and that is stress like no other,every day the time bomb is ticking . my Dr gave me these choices 1. Do nothing. Do best to control blood pressure, stress, etc. and monitor aneurysm
2. Perform clipping -with a 50/50 chance .annie was at the branching of the artery and would need 2 clips as the annie was on both arterys,dangerous surgery and he would not recamend it ,unless I could not live with the ticking time bomb . I lived with it for 2 yrs and it made my life and my familys life a nightmare . It was a hard choice to make ,and I feel for your Dad , but if his Dr. is recommending the Clipping,the surgery is no where near as hard to recover from as a rupture,but making that choice is hard,no one wants to have brain surgery I wish Him all the best and will keep him in my prayers . (((HUGS))) Snap

[mayansun]

First my thoughts and wishes to you, your dad and family in facing all of this. It is both emotionally and physically draining. As folks here have said the decision on surgery is so personal and dependent on health, risks etc.

I had an unruptured annie clipped almost 2 1/2 years ago (at 27) and talked with both a neurosurgeon and a neuroradiologist to get opinions. I had the same 3 options of nothing, clip, coil. Given my age, health and assumed lifespan, as well as the specifics of the annie I went with clipping and both doctors agreed. It was helpful to have my Dad and boyfriend with me to hear out the options as I wasn't that capable of hearing it all.

What about a 2nd opinion if you and your Dad aren't sure? I wanted to most certain option which was clipping and while brain surgery wasn't fun I was fortunate not to have any physical complications (did fight real serious anxiety for a while and it lingers sometimes) but the risks are real and I wish you patience and strength as you all work through this.

[Lisa Sobocinski]

My name is Lisa and am in week 2 of recovery on the clipping of a 1.5cm aneurysm. I am going back for 2nd surgery in a few weeks. It will be coiled...I was told becuase of size and where it is located is what procedure should be done. I was told my 1st one was considered "giant"...clipping would be the best. My 2nd one is 6mm....much smaller for the coiling procedure. I have also spoken to many on when the coiling has failed and patient has to go back for the clipping. My heart is with you and please feel free to call or email me....communicating has helped me immensely!!!! Love to you, Lisa:) :o ;) :D

[joannef]

Dadsgirl,
I would DEFINITELY get a second opinion. And a third if necessary. The success of a recoiling really depends on the doctor doing the procedure, as well as on the location of the annie. Another neuroradiologist might be willing to try the recoiling and it's far less invasive than a clipping.

Good luck to you and your Dad.

Hugs,
Joanne

[Craig]

We can only offer opinions around here and I think your doing the correct thing to think about it and get feedback. IMO the best advice is from Drs. and a second opinion can't hurt. I think your father's present health, age and attitude will weigh heavily in your decision. A rupture is a devestating event I went that route 1 time. I have had the ruptured aneurism coiled 3 times but by last report it's hopefully fixed for good but the jury is still out as far as just how long coilings last as far as I'm concerned.

I'm monitoring a second 4.5mm aneurism presently at my Dr's suggestion. If the second aneurism was in a easily coilable area I would not hesitate for a second to try that route again. Unfortunately it's not in a easy coil area. I'm being advised by my medical professionals that if I did not have the attitude-fortitude-nerve (call it what you want) to just monitor they could possibly (maybe, long shot) try a difficult area coil before they would try a clip. I'm growing better each day with the difficulty of just monitoring. I believe it takes a certain type to "live with the ticking bomb" in a monitor situation but it's do-able for me, for now. I beleive that sooner or later a clip procedure will be done if there is any growth that gets worrisome.

To try and reflect correctly with what I'm saying I can tell you that I am presently 47 years old in relatively good health after a heart-attack with bypass surgery a few years back. My original aneurism burst in 2004 but after a long period I appear to be back with little deficit from original burst finally

Hope this helps you in some small way and of course I wish you and your father well on the highway to health!

Craig

[Kitty]

I'm 56 years old. I had a rupture in May, 2005. Coiling was attempted, but could not be done. Then I had two clipping surgeries to clip all 4 annies on that side. 2.5 weeks in ICU.

There were more on the other side of my head, and that clipping surgery was done in October, 2005. The first time, with the rupture, was a pretty rough experience. The second surgery was much easier, and recovery was much faster for me. Not to say it was fun, but it wasn't anywhere near as bad as the rupture as far as pain, or healing time.

I, too, would suggest a second opinion if you are concerned about what is the right thing to do. But for most people, while "brain surgery" is a scary thought, it is nowhere near as devastating as a rupture.

I'll keep your dad in my prayers.

[Nancy D]

First my thoughts and wishes to you, your dad and family in facing all of this. It is both emotionally and physically draining. As folks here have said the decision on surgery is so personal and dependent on health, risks etc.

I had an unruptured annie clipped almost 2 1/2 years ago (at 27) and talked with both a neurosurgeon and a neuroradiologist to get opinions. I had the same 3 options of nothing, clip, coil. Given my age, health and assumed lifespan, as well as the specifics of the annie I went with clipping and both doctors agreed. It was helpful to have my Dad and boyfriend with me to hear out the options as I wasn't that capable of hearing it all.

What about a 2nd opinion if you and your Dad aren't sure? I wanted to most certain option which was clipping and while brain surgery wasn't fun I was fortunate not to have any physical complications (did fight real serious anxiety for a while and it lingers sometimes) but the risks are real and I wish you patience and strength as you all work through this.How true for me, to have someone else listen, too and ask intelligent questions. As soon as my Dr. said Crainiotomy, my ears dried up!

[ChrisC]

Hi and welcome to the site......I'm sorry to hear that your Dad had compaction of the coils, but unfortunately, that's one of the downfalls of coils. I'm a post coiling, unruptured annie patient, and we attempted to clip, but it was not successful. Two weeks after the crani, I had the coiling done. I did it that way because clipping is considered the more permanent fix. Wonderfully now, tho - I was just cleared with my 3 year angio - no compaction, no new growth and no need for any more angios.

The surgical decision that has to be made is with Dad and a surgeon that he trusts explicitly. As for "ticking time bombs", everyone has to make their own choice as to how they want to cope with them. I, for one, couldn't wait to have it fixed and go on with life. Yes, it was a heck of a year, but I'm glad I was stubborn. Yes, I was scared out of my mind but I took one day at a time, and found a surgeon who I knew would keep me safe. My best to your Dad.

Chris

[DadsGrl]

Thanks to everyone for their thouhgts! My father decided to go through with the surgery. We thought it was a success but unfortunately he has developed hydrocephalus since.

[JulieNH]

I'm sorry your Dad has developed Hydrocephalus. One of the things I have figured out from my research (PLEASE NOTE, I AM NOT A DOCTOR!!) is that if a person is GENETICALLY predisposed for aneurysms (has 1 or 2 genetically linked relatives with a history of aneurysms) is more likely to have an aneurysm which will undermine itself, will keep growing if not clipped, and if the patient doen't quit smoking, will have an aneurysm which will undermine itself again and again over time. PLEASE NOTE I DO NOT HAVE A MD!!!!!!!

My thoughts and prayers are with you, your Dad, and your family. Please have a MRA/MRI yourself, and encourage your siblings to do the same. If there is any genetic link to aneurysms, you're better safe than sorry. If you are adopted, get checked. Believe me, YOU DO NOT WANT TO GO THROUGH A RUPTURE!!!!

I don't know where you live, but I would recommend sending your Dad's records to a large teaching Medical School. More imput is better than one input.

Good luck! Go with God!
JulieNH