Microsurgical Clipping for Brain Aneurysms

What is microsurgical clipping?

The more established method of treating aneurysms is microsurgical clipping. The first aneurysm ever treated by surgical clipping was performed at Johns Hopkins Hospital by Dr Walter Dandy on March 23, 1937.

During microsurgical clipping, a small metal clip is used to stop blood flow into the aneurysm. A craniotomy is performed to create an opening in the skull to reach the aneurysm in the brain. The clip is placed on the neck (opening) of the aneurysm to obstruct the flow of blood, and remains inside the brain.

Treating aneurysms at Johns Hopkins:

The Johns Hopkins Cerebrovascular Team evaluates each aneurysm patient to decide the best singular therapy or treatment combination (clipping or coiling) 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.

Read an article by Drs Judy Huang and Rafael Tamargo on Microsurgical Clipping and Endovascular Coiling of Intracranial Aneurysms.