Brain Aneurysm Treatment with Dr. Shah-Naz Khan, Neurosurgeon in Flint, MI
A brain aneurysm, also called a cerebral aneurysm, is a weak, balloon-like bulge in the wall of an artery in the brain. Most are small and cause no symptoms, but a ruptured aneurysm is a life-threatening emergency. Brain aneurysm treatment ranges from careful monitoring to minimally invasive coiling, flow diverters, or surgical clipping, chosen based on the aneurysm's size, location, and risk of bleeding.
What it is
A balloon-like bulge in a brain artery wall. Often symptomless until it grows or bleeds.
Who is at risk
More common with age, high blood pressure, smoking, and a family history of aneurysms.
Common symptoms
Usually none if unruptured. A rupture causes a sudden, severe headache unlike any before.
Emergency signs
Sudden worst-ever headache, stiff neck, vision loss, or fainting. Call 911 right away.
Main treatments
Monitoring, endovascular coiling, flow diverters, or surgical clipping.
What is a brain aneurysm?
A brain aneurysm is a weak spot in the wall of an artery in or around the brain that balloons outward and fills with blood. Think of it like a thin, bulging bubble on the side of a garden hose. Many people have one and never know it, because a small, unruptured aneurysm often causes no symptoms at all.
The key distinction is unruptured versus ruptured. An unruptured brain aneurysm has not burst; it is usually found by chance on a scan done for another reason, and it is managed calmly and deliberately. A ruptured aneurysm has burst and is bleeding into the space around the brain, called a subarachnoid hemorrhage. That is a medical emergency and needs care within minutes to hours, not days.
Caring for brain aneurysms sits squarely inside Dr. Khan's field of cerebrovascular and endovascular neurosurgery, the surgery of blood vessels in and around the brain. See cerebrovascular neurosurgery →
Unruptured vs. ruptured
What are the warning signs of a brain aneurysm?
Most unruptured aneurysms cause no symptoms. The signs below split into a true emergency (a possible rupture) and quieter signs that still deserve a specialist's review.
Call 911 now if…
These can mean an aneurysm has ruptured. Do not wait and do not drive yourself. Call 911 or go to the nearest ER.
- A sudden, severe headache, often described as the worst of your life, that peaks within seconds
- A stiff neck, nausea or vomiting, or sensitivity to light with that headache
- Sudden blurred or double vision, a drooping eyelid, or a dilated pupil
- Loss of consciousness, a seizure, confusion, or weakness on one side of the body
See a specialist soon if…
Not an emergency, but worth a neurosurgeon's review rather than waiting and wondering.
- A scan found an unruptured aneurysm and you want a clear plan and second opinion
- New pain behind or above one eye, or a persistent, unusual headache pattern
- A parent, sibling, or child has had a brain aneurysm and you are worried about your risk
- A "warning" or sentinel headache that came and went before a bigger event
What causes a brain aneurysm?
Aneurysms usually form where an artery wall is naturally thinner and under steady pressure. You cannot control every risk factor, but several can be lowered.
Risk factors you may be able to change
- High blood pressure (hypertension), which stresses artery walls over time
- Smoking or tobacco use, one of the strongest changeable risks
- Heavy alcohol use and use of stimulant drugs such as cocaine
- Uncontrolled, ongoing high stress on the cardiovascular system
Risk factors you cannot change
- Older age, with risk rising over the years
- A family history of brain aneurysms in a close relative
- Female sex, which carries a somewhat higher risk
- Inherited conditions such as polycystic kidney disease or connective-tissue disorders
How are brain aneurysms diagnosed?
Aneurysms are found and measured with imaging that looks closely at the brain's blood vessels. The right test depends on whether it is an emergency or a planned evaluation.
CT angiography (CTA)
A CT scan with a dye injected into a vein maps the brain's arteries in minutes. It is often the first test in an emergency because it is quick and widely available.
MR angiography (MRA)
An MRI-based scan of the blood vessels that uses no X-rays. It is often used to screen people at higher risk or to follow a known, unruptured aneurysm over time.
Cerebral angiogram (DSA)
A thin catheter guides dye directly to the brain's arteries for the clearest, most detailed picture. It is the gold-standard test and helps plan the exact treatment.
How is a brain aneurysm treated?
There is no single right answer for every aneurysm. The four main paths below are matched to your specific aneurysm and your overall health.
Observation & monitoring
Many small, unruptured aneurysms are watched with regular scans and blood-pressure control, since treating them may carry more risk than the aneurysm itself.
Endovascular coiling
Through a catheter in a blood vessel, soft platinum coils fill the aneurysm so blood can no longer flow into it. There is no open surgery on the skull.
Flow diverters
A fine mesh stent is placed across the aneurysm's neck to redirect blood flow along the normal artery, so the aneurysm gradually seals off. Useful for certain complex aneurysms.
Surgical clipping
A tiny titanium clip is placed across the base of the aneurysm to close it off from the artery. It is a durable, long-proven option for suitable aneurysms.
Choosing the right treatment for you
The best option depends on the aneurysm's size, shape, and location, whether it has ruptured, and your age and overall health. Because Dr. Khan is trained in both open cerebrovascular surgery and minimally invasive endovascular techniques, the recommendation is guided by what fits your case, not by a single tool.
Every case is reviewed by Dr. Khan personally, and treatment is recommended only when the benefit clearly outweighs the risk. When monitoring is the safer choice, that is what she will say. You will get a clear, honest explanation of the trade-offs, with time for your questions. See endovascular neurosurgery →
What shapes the plan
Recovery and what to expect
Recovery depends heavily on which treatment you have and, above all, on whether the aneurysm had ruptured. Recovery after a planned procedure for an unruptured aneurysm is usually far shorter and smoother than recovery after a rupture, which often involves a stay in intensive care and a longer rehabilitation.
In general, minimally invasive treatments such as coiling or a flow diverter tend to involve a shorter hospital stay than open surgical clipping, though clipping is a durable, long-established repair. Your care team will explain your specific timeline, activity limits, and follow-up scans. These are general patterns, not a promise about any one person's recovery.
Follow-up imaging is an important part of aneurysm care, so your neurosurgeon can confirm the aneurysm stays sealed over time.
General recovery patterns
Aneurysm care from a fellowship-trained cerebrovascular neurosurgeon
Shah-Naz Khan, MD, FRCSC, FAANS is a fellowship-trained neurosurgeon who completed subspecialty training in cerebrovascular and endovascular neurosurgery at the Mayfield Clinic, University of Cincinnati. Care for brain aneurysms and other blood-vessel conditions of the brain is a core part of her practice, not a condition she refers out.
She founded the Institute of General and Endovascular Neurosurgery in Flint, Michigan in 2014 on a simple standard: excellence, ethics, and integrity. Every case is personally evaluated by Dr. Khan, surgery is recommended only when it is truly in your best interest, and second opinions are genuinely welcomed. Explore cerebrovascular neurosurgery →
Why patients choose IGEN
- Board-certified, fellowship-trained neurosurgeon
- Trained in both open and minimally invasive (endovascular) aneurysm treatment
- Every case personally reviewed by Dr. Khan, not delegated
- Surgery advised only when the benefit clearly outweighs the risk
- Second opinions welcomed
Brain aneurysm: frequently asked questions
What is a brain aneurysm?
What are the warning signs of a brain aneurysm?
Is a brain aneurysm always fatal?
What is the recovery time after brain aneurysm surgery?
Coiling vs. clipping: which is better?
I have an unruptured brain aneurysm. Do I need surgery?
Are brain aneurysms hereditary?
Do I need a referral to see Dr. Khan about a brain aneurysm?
Concerned about a brain aneurysm? Get a clear answer.
Whether you have an aneurysm found on a scan, a family history that worries you, or you simply want a specialist's read, Dr. Khan will review your case personally and walk you through your options, calmly and honestly.
- Request a consultation by phone or through the contact form.
- Share any scans or reports you already have so nothing is repeated needlessly.
- Meet Dr. Khan for a personal review, a clear explanation, and honest next steps.
- Our team will follow up to confirm your appointment .