Aneurysm Surgery: Procedure Details and Recovery

GetWellGo guides international patients through aneurysm surgery, detailing procedures and recovery to ensure a smooth, safe medical journey abroad.

Aneurysm Surgery: Procedure Details and Recovery

  • Category

    Cardiology

  • Published By

    GetWellGo Team

  • Updated on

    19-May-2025

Aneurysm Surgery Procedure

An aneurysm is treated by surgery, which deals with a weakened area in a blood vessel’s wall. If the aneurysm threatens to burst and cause severe bleeding inside, surgery is often needed. The kind of procedure used is based on where the aneurysm is and how big it is.

Aneurysm Surgery Recovery Time

How much time it takes to recover after an aneurysm operation depends on the aneurysm type, the method used, and the person’s general health.

Here's a breakdown by the type of surgery:

Brain (Cerebral) Aneurysm Surgery

Open Surgery (Craniotomy with Clipping)

  • Hospital stay: 4–7 days
  • Total recovery time: 6 to 12 weeks

Endovascular Coiling (Minimally Invasive)

  • Hospital stay: 1–3 days
  • Total recovery time: 2 to 6 weeks

Aortic Aneurysm Surgery

Open Aortic Repair

  • Hospital stay: 5–10 days
  • Total recovery time: 6 to 12 weeks

Endovascular Aneurysm Repair (EVAR/TEVAR)

  • Hospital stay: 2–3 days
  • Total recovery time: 2 to 4 weeks

What is Aneurysm Surgery?

Aneurysm surgery is done to manage an aneurysm, a bulging or weakened section of a blood vessel’s wall. The purpose of the surgery is to avoid the aneurysm from breaking open and causing serious bleeding, stroke, or failures in vital organs.

What Is an Aneurysm?

Part of an artery may balloon or swell when its wall becomes broken or damaged. Common locations include:

  • Brain (cerebral aneurysm)
  • Aorta (abdominal or thoracic)
  • Peripheral arteries (less common)

Brain Aneurysm Surgery Risks

Brain aneurysm surgery, either clipping or coiling, is mostly effective, but there are many risks since delicate brain tissue and blood vessels are involved.

Aneurysm surgery complications:

Stroke

  • Sometimes caused by surgery that stops or reduces blood flow.
  • Could lead to weakness, trouble with speech, or other problems linked to the brain.

Bleeding (Hemorrhage)

  • Clots in the blood vessels may occur in the brain during or after an operation.

Infection

  • Especially in open surgery (craniotomy).
  • It can sometime lead to meningitis or an infected wound.

Seizures

  • Being irritated after surgery can make the head prone to seizures.
  • Anti-seizure medicines may be given temporarily.

Swelling or Increased Intracranial Pressure

  • May trigger headaches, leave you puzzled, or bring about more significant complication.

Memory and Cognitive Issues

  • Short-term memory, the ability to concentrate, or how fast you process information may either be affected for only a short period or permanently.

Vasospasm

  • Narrow blood vessels appear days after surgery, slowing the blood circulation in the brain.
  • Usually develops following tissue disruption, so it needs to be closely watched.

Hydrocephalus

  • CSF collecting in the brain.
  • Infants growing inside the mother may sometimes require a shunt to remove water buildup.

Blood Clots

  • There is a small risk that clot formation can cause them to travel to the lungs or to get caught in brain vessels.

Anaesthesia-related Risks

  • For instance, reactions that trigger allergy, breathing issues, or problems with the heart.

Aneurysm Surgery Step by Step

Craniotomy with Clipping (Open Surgery)

Step 1: Preoperative Preparation

  • CT, MRI, and cerebral angiogram are some of the imaging tests used to find the aneurysm.
  • A review of the patient’s blood results, drug approvals, and administered medicines is done.
  • Informed consent is taken.

Step 2: Anaesthesia

  • The purpose of general anaesthesia is to make sure the patient does not feel pain and is not aware of the surgery.

Step 3: Craniotomy

  • A section of the hair is carefully shaved and made clean.
  • The surgeon makes a cut in the skull bone.
  • Small part of the skull is removed through craniotomy to operate on the brain.

Step 4: Aneurysm Exposure

  • The surgeon very carefully works with fine instruments on the brain during the surgery.
  • There is an aneurysm present in the blood vessel.

Step 5: Clipping the Aneurysm

  • A small metal clip goes at the top of the aneurysm (at the neck).
  • It is placed to prevent blood from causing the aneurysm to burst.

Step 6: Closing the Skull and Scalp

  • The bone flap is put back in place and connected using screws or plates.
  • The skin along the back of the head is sewed or stapled together.

Step 7: Recovery

  • The patient is shifted to the ICU for closer attention.
  • It takes 4–7 days in the hospital for the patient to recover.

Endovascular Coiling (Minimally Invasive)

Step 1: Preoperative Preparation

  • Special scans (CT angiography or DSA) are carried out to check how the aneurysm is shaped.
  • If stents are to be used, the doctor might prescribe antiplatelet drugs in advance.

Step 2: Anaesthesia

  • Doctors use general anaesthesia or local anaesthesia with sedation.

Step 3: Catheter Insertion

  • The surgery begins with the creation of a tiny incision in the groin or the wrist.
  • A thin tube is put into the femoral or radial artery in the leg and directed to the brain with the help of real-time imaging.

Step 4: Coiling the Aneurysm

  • A microcatheter that is smaller than the original microcatheter enters the aneurysm.
  • Very small platinum coils are put into the aneurysm.
  • Coils are inserted to stop blood from flowing in the aneurysm.

Step 5: Optional Stent Placement

  • Sometimes, a stent is inserted to ensure the coils stay where they are needed and help support the artery.

Step 6: Catheter Removal and Closure

  • The catheter is removed.
  • One kind of pressure or a closure tool is used to stop the bleeding.

Step 7: Recovery

  • A patient in ICU is kept under observation for 1 to 2 days.
  • Total hospital stay: 1–3 days.
  • Return to light activity: ~1 week.

Types of Aneurysm Surgery

Two major types of aneurysm surgery are available, and which one is done depends on where the aneurysm is, how large it is, what its shape is, and how healthy the patient is. Such operations aim at stopping an aneurysm from bursting or dealing with a burst aneurysm.

Open Surgical Repair (Clipping or Grafting):

Clipping (for Brain Aneurysms)

  • Purpose: Stops blood from entering the aneurysm by blockading it with a small clip.

Procedure:

  • In this procedure, part of the skull is opened.
  • The base (neck) of the aneurysm is where the clip is put.
  • Best for: If broad-neck aneurysms are present or coiling is the wrong treatment.
  • Invasiveness: High

Open Aortic Aneurysm Repair

  • Purpose: Inserts a synthetic graft to take the place of the weakened section of the aorta.

Procedure:

  • Major cut to the person’s chest or abdomen.
  • The damaged vessel is taken out and a new one is put in its place.
  • Best for: When the aneurysm is big or located in a complex site.
  • Invasiveness: High

Endovascular Repair (Coiling or EVAR):

Endovascular Coiling (for Brain Aneurysms)

  • Purpose: Blocks the aneurysm by inserting platinum coils inside it.

Procedure:

  • The catheter is put through the groin and directed to the brain.
  • The coils are placed inside the aneurysm in an effort to encourage the blood to clot.
  • Best for: Those with aneurysms that are located in the narrow part of the neck of the artery, or patients who have increased risk factors during surgery.
  • Invasiveness: Low

EVAR/TEVAR (for Aortic Aneurysms)

  • EVAR: Endovascular Aneurysm Repair (abdominal aorta)
  • TEVAR: Damage to the thoracic aorta can be treated with the procedure called Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair.

Procedure:

  • The surgeon puts the stent graft in your abdominal aorta by threading a catheter from the groin.
  • It strengthens the aorta on the inside layers.
  • Best for: Patients unfit for open surgery.
  • Invasiveness: Minimally invasive

Endovascular Aneurysm Repair

EVAR is a simple surgery used to repair both abdominal and thoracic aortic aneurysms, mainly reducing the risks associated with aortic aneurysms. The purpose is to stop the aorta from bursting by supporting the weak area with a stent graft.

What Is EVAR?

EVAR includes placing a device known as a stent graft into the aneurysm through arteries, rather than requiring an open surgery. Placing a bypass allows blood to travel a new route and reduces stress on the aneurysm, helping to prevent it from bursting.

Aneurysm Surgery Success Rate

Endovascular Coiling

90–95%

Surgical Clipping

90–97%

Coiling or Clipping

70–90%

EVAR (Endovascular Repair)

95–98%

Open Surgical Repair

90–95%

How long is aneurysm surgery?

The length of the surgery for aneurysm depends on the kind of aneurysm, how it is located, and its treatment approaches. Here's a breakdown by type:

Brain Aneurysm Surgery

Surgical Clipping (Open Surgery)

  • Duration: 3 to 6 hours
  • Surgery is done using a craniotomy, and then a clip is put over the aneurysm.

Endovascular Coiling (Minimally Invasive)

  • Duration: 1.5 to 3 hours
  • Refers to the putting in of coils into an artery in the groin by means of a catheter.

Aortic Aneurysm Surgery

Open Aortic Repair 

  • Duration: 3 to 6 hours
  • Large incision, the damaged part of the aorta is fixed by inserting a synthetic graft.

EVAR / TEVAR (Endovascular Repair)

  • Duration: 1.5 to 3 hours
  • The doctor inserts small tubes through the groin and guides them up to the damaged section in the artery; a stent graft is then deployed.

Recovery after Aneurysm Repair

Recovery After Brain Aneurysm Surgery

Endovascular Coiling (Minimally Invasive)

  • Hospital Stay: 1–3 days
  • Return to Light Activity: 1–2 weeks
  • Full Recovery: 2–6 weeks
  • Follow-up: Brain scans from time to time to make sure the condition is not returning

Surgical Clipping (Open Craniotomy)

  • Hospital Stay: 5–10 days (includes ICU monitoring)
  • Return to Light Activity: 4–6 weeks
  • Full Recovery: 6–12 weeks or longer

Common Symptoms During Recovery:

  • Fatigue
  • Headaches
  • Temporary memory or focus issues
  • Seizures (in some cases)

Recovery After Aortic Aneurysm Repair

EVAR (Endovascular Aneurysm Repair)

  • Hospital Stay: 1–3 days
  • Return to Light Activity: 1–2 weeks
  • Full Recovery: 2–4 weeks

Follow-up:

  • CT scans or ultrasounds must be done every 6–12 months.
  • Keep in mind that sometimes blood can leak into the sac of the aneurysm.

Open Aortic Repair

  • Hospital Stay: 5–10 days (includes ICU)
  • Return to Light Activity: 4–6 weeks
  • Full Recovery: 6–12 weeks

Common Post-op Issues:

  • Pain around the incision
  • The problem is caused by anaesthesia or pain medications leading to constipation.
  • Fatigue or weakness
  • The possibility of infection or a graft failing

Aneurysm Surgery Preparation

Medical Evaluation

Imaging Tests:

  • Brain aneurysm: CT/MRI scan, cerebral angiography
  • Aortic aneurysm: CT angiogram, echocardiogram
  • Lab Tests: The number of cells in the blood, how kidneys are functioning, and how blood clots
  • Cardiac Clearance: This is especially necessary for people suffering from aortic aneurysms.
  • Medication Review: Make sure to go over all the medicines you are taking with your physician.

Medication Management

  • Unless you are told otherwise by your doctor, do not take aspirin, warfarin, or clopidogrel for 5 to 7 days ahead of surgery.
  • Look after your blood pressure, sugar levels, and other ongoing health problems.
  • If you need an endovascular repair or a stent, you may be given antibiotics or antiplatelet medicines.

Diet and Fasting

  • You must abstain from taking any drinks or food for 6-8 hours before surgery, as instructed.
  • It is possible that medical staff will allow you to swallow a small amount of water while taking some medications.

Lifestyle Preparation

  • Stop smoking at least two weeks in advance of your surgery (this can prevent problems and improves your healing).
  • Avoid any alcoholic drinks at least a day or two before you undergo surgery.
  • Make sure to get help at home after you’re released, mainly if you have an open surgery.

Hospital and Logistics

  • Bring essentials: You should also bring your ID, insurance data, medication list, and an extra set of clothes.
  • Prepare advance directives (optional).
  • Set up your way to the event and let your employer know about the days off you need.

Why Choose GetWellGo for Aneurysm Surgery?

GetWellGo is regarded as a leading supplier of healthcare services. We help our foreign clients choose the best treatment locations that suit their needs both financially and medically.

We offer:

  • Complete transparency
  • Fair costs.
  • 24 hour availability.
  • Medical E-visas
  • Online consultation from recognized Indian experts.
  • Assistance in selecting India's top hospitals for aneurysm surgery.
  • Expert surgeon with a strong track record of success
  • Assistance during and after the course of treatment.
  • Language Support
  • Travel and Accommodation Services
  • Case manager assigned to every patient to provide seamless support in and out of the hospital like appointment booking
  • Local SIM Cards
  • Currency Exchange
  • Arranging Patient’s local food
     

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