Severance Hospital Achieves 100 Cases of 'Cerebral Blood Flow Blocker Insertion' Procedure

Professor Park Geun-young of the Department of Neurosurgery at Severance Hospital is performing a cerebral blood flow occluder insertion procedure.
[Photo by Severance Hospital]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-joo] Severance Hospital announced on the 23rd that it has achieved 100 cases of the brain aneurysm treatment procedure called 'Woven EndoBridge (WEB) device insertion.'

A brain aneurysm is a condition where the wall of a cerebral artery is weak, causing the blood vessel wall to bulge like a berry. It occurs in 2-5% of the population, but not all brain aneurysms require treatment. Treatment is carried out by considering various factors such as the size, location, shape of the aneurysm, and the patient's condition.

One in 10,000 people suffers from subarachnoid hemorrhage caused by the rupture of a brain aneurysm. Such ruptures can lead to consciousness impairment, hemiplegia, and in severe cases, death. There are two main methods to prevent rupture: clipping surgery and coil embolization. Clipping surgery involves opening the skull and clipping the aneurysm to reduce the risk of rupture. Coil embolization involves inserting a thin catheter into an artery near the groin and advancing a fine microcatheter to the aneurysm, then placing coils inside to block blood flow.

The WEB device insertion procedure is an advanced treatment method developed from coil embolization. While coil embolization involves weaving multiple platinum coils inside the aneurysm like a skein of thread, the WEB device insertion involves placing a basket-shaped WEB device inside the aneurysm. Compared to coil embolization, the procedure is simpler and takes less time.

The WEB device insertion is indicated for aneurysms occurring at bifurcation vessels shaped like a 'T.' A characteristic of bifurcation aneurysms is that most have a wide neck. Because of the wide neck, coil embolization often requires additional stent placement, as it is difficult to secure the coils at the vessel entrance.

When using stents, antiplatelet medication is essential to prevent thrombosis. Taking antiplatelet drugs can cause discomfort to patients and may lead to complications such as headaches, swelling, rash, and gastrointestinal bleeding. The WEB device insertion can reduce these issues. Since only one WEB device is placed inside the aneurysm, the use of stents can be minimized.

Professor Park Geun-young of the Department of Neurosurgery at Severance Hospital said, "Since not all brain aneurysms require treatment, the expertise of the physician deciding on treatment is important," adding, "At Severance's cerebrovascular team, treatment decisions are made collectively by medical staff rather than by individual doctors, allowing for optimized treatment tailored to each patient."

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