Below is a narrated animation of Flow diversion. Click here to license this video and other similar images/videos on Alila Medical Media website.

Flow diversion is a newer endovascular technique used to treat brain aneurysms. The procedure involves placing a flow-diverting device – a specially designed metal mesh tube – in the blood vessel adjacent to the aneurysm to divert blood flow AWAY from the aneurysm.

In this procedure, a catheter guided by a wire is inserted through the femoral artery at the groin and threaded all the way to the affected brain artery. The guide-wire is removed. A micro-catheter carrying the flow-diverting device is introduced inside the initial catheter and is navigated PAST the aneurysm opening, without entering it. The device is then deployed across the neck of the aneurysm.

The tube slows and eventually stops blood flow into the aneurysm, which, over time, is believed to shrink and disappear.

Flow diversion is particularly useful for treatment of large or wide-neck aneurysms where coiling may be difficult to perform. It is also more suitable for treating un-ruptured aneurysms due to the fact that the device and the catheter system do NOT need to enter the aneurysm itself. This significantly reduces the risk of the aneurysm rupturing during the procedure.