What is Microvascular Clipping?

Microvascular clipping is a surgery to cut off blood flow to an aneurysm. This prevents bleeding and rupture. Typically, a portion of the skull is removed (a procedure called a craniotomy ) and restored during this complex, open surgery.

Microvascular clipping treats a brain aneurysm . It will not fix already damaged areas of the brain, but it can improve quality of life by stopping bleeding or preventing rupture.

Brain Aneurysm © 2009 Nucleus Medical Media, Inc.

Possible Complications

If you having this procedure, your doctor will review a list of possible complications, which may include:

• Weakness
• Numbness or tingling
• Speech disturbances
• Visual changes
• Confusion, memory loss
• Seizures
• Infection
• Reaction to anesthesia (eg, light-headedness, low blood pressure, wheezing)
• Kidney damage
• Blood clots (eg, stroke )
• Ruptured aneurysm during surgery

Factors that may increase the risk of complications include:

• Smoking
• Obesity
• High blood pressure

Discuss these risks with your doctor before surgery.

Call Your Doctor

After you leave the hospital, contact your doctor if any of the following occurs:

• Any changes in physical ability—balance, strength, or movement
• Any changes to...