Flow Diversion for Aneurysms with Stents

What is flow diversion?

Flow diversion is an endovascular technique whereby instead of placing a device inside the aneurysm sac, such as with coiling, the device is placed in the parent blood vessel to divert blood flow away from the aneurysm itself.

How is flow diversion/Pipeline™ performed?

During a flow-diversion/Pipeline™ procedure, a microcatheter is navigated past the aneurysm without having to enter the aneurysm. Then, the flow-diverting device (Pipeline™ Embolization Device) is deployed across the neck of the aneurysm in the parent blood vessel where the aneurysm is present.

Pipeline™ stent being placed

Almost immediately the blood flow to the aneurysm is reduced, and the complete closure of the aneurysm occurs between 6 weeks to 6 months after the procedure.

Reasons for having flow diversion performed

A flow diversion procedure may be performed to treat an unruptured brain aneurysm. Flow diversion is one method of removing the need to enter the aneurysm, which is the most dangerous part of endovascular treatment of aneurysms. The risk of rupturing the aneurysm during surgery is greatly diminished by not placing a device inside the aneurysm.

There may be other reasons for your physician to recommend a flow diversion procedure.

Treating aneurysms at Johns Hopkins

The Johns Hopkins Aneurysm Center Team evaluates each brain aneurysm patient to decide the best singular therapy or treatment combination for the patient's specific case.

Johns Hopkins is one of the few hospitals in the country that treats about 200 aneurysm cases a year. We have published our aneurysm treatment results, which rank among the best in the world. In addition, our NCCU is one of the few units in the country entirely devoted to neurosurgical and neurological problems. Learn more about our team.

To request an appointment or refer a patient, please contact the Johns Hopkins Aneurysm Center at 410-614-1533.