A new study has revealed that blocking brain aneurysms with platinum coils could give patients a better chance of long-term survival.

Although invasive brain surgery is commonly used to treat the often-fatal aneurysms, the research carried out by Oxford University found that platinum coils could cut the risk of death or disability by nearly a quarter.

In a statement announcing the findings, lead researcher and neuroradiologist Andrew Molyneux, explained that the method could save as many as 74 patients in 1,000 from death or disability.

Reporting in the Lancet, the researchers revealed that the new method involves platinum coils inserted in a blood vessel near the groin, via a tiny puncture. The coils are guided using a catheter up the blood vessel to the brain.

The approach is markedly different from the traditional method of treating brain aneurysms, whereby invasive surgery is used to "clip" the aneurysm to prevent bleeding.

The report also states that those treated with coils had a much lower risk of seizures than those treated through brain surgery, providing evidence that using the platinum coils provide a much better chance of long-term survival.


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