What is a visceral aneurysm?
An aneurysm is a weakening in an artery that stretches out like a balloon. A visceral aneurysm involves an artery going to one of the organs in the belly, like the liver, kidneys, spleen or intestines. An aneurysm can burst or bleed, which can be life-threatening. This risk goes up when aneurysms grow quickly or reach a certain size.
What is a MIIP for aneurysms?
A MIIP is a minimally invasive, image-guided procedure that can be an alternative to surgery. A MIIP for aneurysms keeps them from filling with blood so they cannot bleed.
The clinician numbs the skin on the upper thigh or wrist. They thread a small plastic tube through the skin into an artery. They use moving x-rays to guide the tube to the aneurysm in the belly. They may fill the aneurysm with soft metal coils or special glue. They may also put a mesh metal tube called a stent across the aneurysm to let blood flow past it. The aneurysm is blocked off and cannot fill with blood. They hold pressure for 15-20 minutes or close the hole in the artery with a small device. They put a bandage over the pinhole in the skin.
MIIP for Aneurysms
1. After numbing the skin, the clinician threads a small tube through the artery and to the aneurysm in the belly
2. They block off the aneurysm by filling it with soft metal coils or special glue.
3. Once the blocked off aneurysm cannot fill with blood, the clinician removes the tube and places a bandage over the pinhole in the skin.
What are the risks?
MIIPs for visceral aneurysms are generally safe when done by a specialist.
Less than 1 in 10 people have the aneurysm burst during the procedure
Less than 2 in 100 people
develop an infection
have bleeding
have damage to the artery where the tube entered the body
What are the alternatives?
Your options will depend upon your specific health condition and your preferences.
Alternative 1 Not treating the aneurysm. The advantage is avoiding a procedure. The disadvantage is that your aneurysm could burst, causing life-threatening bleeding.
Alternative 2 Surgery to clip or cut out the aneurysm. This has a higher success rate but is also more invasive and riskier. Recovery is also longer.