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Brain aneurysm repair - discharge

Aneurysm repair - cerebral - discharge; Cerebral aneurysm repair - discharge; Coiling - discharge; Saccular aneurysm repair - discharge; Berry aneurysm repair - discharge; Fusiform aneurysm repair - discharge; Dissecting aneurysm repair - discharge; Endovascular aneurysm repair - discharge; Aneurysm clipping - discharge

You had a brain aneurysm. An aneurysm is a weak area in the wall of a blood vessel that bulges or balloons out. Once it reaches a certain size, it has a high chance of bursting. It can leak blood along the surface of the brain. This is called a subarachnoid hemorrhage. Sometimes bleeding can occur inside the brain.

You had surgery to prevent the aneurysm from bleeding or to treat the aneurysm after it bled. After you go home, follow your health care provider's instructions on how to care for yourself. Use the information below as a reminder.

I Would Like to Learn About:

When You're in the Hospital

You likely had one of two types of surgery:

What to Expect at Home

If you had bleeding before, during, or after surgery you might have some short- or long-term problems. These may be mild or severe. For many people, these problems get better over time.

If you had either type of surgery you may:

What to expect after craniotomy and placement of a clip:

What to expect after endovascular repair:

You may be able to start daily activities, such as driving a car, within 1 or 2 weeks if you did not have any bleeding. Ask your provider which daily activities are safe for you to do.

Self-care

Make plans to have help at home while you recover.

Follow a healthy lifestyle, such as:

Take your seizure medicine if any was prescribed for you. You may be referred to a speech, physical, or occupational therapist to help you recover from any brain damage.

If the surgeon had to put a catheter in through your groin (endovascular surgery), it is OK to walk short distances on a flat surface. Limit going up and down stairs to around 2 times a day for 2 to 3 days. Do not do yard work, drive, or play sports until your doctor says it is OK to do so.

Your provider will tell you when your dressing should be changed. Do not take a bath or swim for 1 week.

If you have a small amount of bleeding from the incision, lie down and put pressure where it bleeds for 30 minutes.

Be sure you understand any instructions about taking medicines such as blood thinners (anticoagulants), aspirin, or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen and naproxen.

Follow-up

Make sure to follow-up with your surgeon's office within 2 weeks of being discharged from the hospital.

Ask your surgeon if you need long-term follow-up and tests, including CT scans, MRIs, or angiograms of your head.

If you had a cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) shunt placed, you will need regular follow-ups to make sure it functions well.

When to Call the Doctor

Contact your surgeon if you have:

Also, contact your surgeon if you have:

Related Information

Brain surgery
Brain aneurysm repair
Stroke
Aneurysm in the brain
Tips on how to quit smoking
Seizures
Recovering after stroke
Communicating with someone with aphasia
Brain surgery - discharge

References

Bershad EM, Suarez JI. Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage. In: Grotta JC, Albers GW, Broderick JP, et al, eds. Stroke. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 29.

Connolly ES Jr, Rabinstein AA, Carhuapoma JR, et al. Guidelines for the management of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage: a guideline for healthcare professionals from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association. Stroke. 2012;43(6):1711-1737. PMID: 22556195 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22556195/.

Endovascular Today website. Leacy RD, Yaniv G, Nael K. Cerebral aneurysm follow-up: How standards have changed and why. A perspective on the optimal follow-up frequency and imaging modality type for treated cerebral aneurysms. February 2019. evtoday.com/articles/2019-feb/cerebral-aneurysm-follow-up-how-standards-have-changed-and-why. Accessed November 18, 2022.

Szeder V, Tateshima S, Jahan R, Saver JL, Duckwiler GR. Intracranial aneurysms and subarachnoid hemorrhage. In: Jankovic J, Mazziotta JC, Pomeroy SL, Newman NJ, eds. Bradley and Daroff's Neurology in Clinical Practice. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 67.

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Review Date: 7/17/2022  

Reviewed By: Luc Jasmin, MD, PhD, FRCS (C), FACS, Department of Surgery, Johnson City Medical Center, TN; Department of Surgery St-Alexius Medical Center, Bismarck, ND; Department of Neurosurgery Fort Sanders Medical Center, Knoxville, TN, Department of Neurosurgery UPMC Williamsport PA, Department of Maxillofacial Surgery at UCSF, San Francisco, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

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