Visceral aneurysm management

An aneurysm is an abnormal enlargement of a blood vessel, which may weaken their walls and thus have a risk of rupturing/bursting. Visceral is a term used for an organ in your body, such as the liver, kidney or spleen. A visceral aneurysm is an aneurysm that occurs in one of these organs. In many circumstances, these can be treated from inside the blood vessel, rather than by open or laparoscopic surgery.

This procedure can be done under local anaesthetic, sedation, or general anaesthetic, in an operating room with specialised medical imaging equipment. Your interventional radiologist will pass a small catheter (tube) into the artery of the groin or wrist, guiding it under x-ray control to the aneurysm. The aneurysm may be blocked by using soft metal coils, stopping the blood flow to the aneurysm but allowing blood flow to the organ. Alternatively, a stent may be placed across the aneurysm. Both of these techniques will allow clot to form in the aneurysm and stop the risk of rupture.