How Long Are You In The Hospital After A Brain Aneurysm?

Factors such as whether the brain aneurysm has ruptured as well as the sort of treatment employed affect the recovery of a patient following a treatment of brain aneurysm.

However, when brain aneurysm is present with a subarachnoid haemorrhage, the time to recover and to remain hospitalized are decided according to the severity of the haemorrhage and not by the treatment modality. If the patient is found to have a subarachnoid haemorrhage, the hospitalisation period will be at least two weeks and during these days the patient will be tested for the complications of the haemorrhage including hydrocephalus and enlargement of cerebral vasospasm. In case there is any development of the above mentioned complications in the patient or he or she has a neurological defect from a previous haemorrhage, a process of alternative period of rehabilitation on inpatient and outpatient basis may be necessary. In best case scenario, the patient is able to resume all of their normal activities within the span of few weeks but with specific limitations on their activities.

If the brain aneurysm is not ruptured, the patients go through a much smoother and predictable period of hospitalisation and recovery. In this case, the hospitalisation and recovery are influenced by the modality of treatment. When Endovascular therapy which is less invasive is followed, the period of hospitalization is short and there is more rapid recovery and resuming of the previous activities. After a successful endovascular procedure, the patient is usually kept in the concentrated care unit for the night followed by a discharge the next if there are no complications. There is no restriction on anything particular and prior activities can be resumed in a matter of days. It can include working a job, driving and flying in airplanes.

The duration of hospitalization differs from patient to patient depending on whether the brain aneurysm has ruptured or not. Patients with un-ruptured brain aneurysms normally reside in the hospital for a short time of approximately 2 – 3 days. The length of hospitalization of patients who have suffered subarachnoid haemorrhage (or bleeding) is unpredictable and is concluded on the condition of the patient on admission and the subsequent treatment. In patients with severe subarachnoid haemorrhage, hospitalization may be up to 3 – 4 weeks.

A craniotomy in favour of clip ligation of a brain aneurysm will require the patient to be admitted to the intensive care unit for a night. From there they will be transferred to a personal room to be kept under observation. The patient is typically discharged from the hospital in couple of days followed by their discharge from the intensive care unit after which they can go back to normal activities. Generally, it takes 4 week to 6 weeks to recuperate from any chief operation counting a craniotomy for brain aneurysm. All through this period, the patient is advised against any forceful physical activity but can take care of themselves. The weeks involve staying alone and typically taking care of themselves, with slowly increasing physical activities such walking, household chores while avoiding any exerting physical exercise. Once, these 4 to 6 weeks of self-monitoring is over, the patient is encouraged to restart all the previous daily activities without any exact restrictions. It is only by increasing their physical involvement, the patient is able to recover their strength and lead a normal life.

Most patients with brain aneurysms are taken off all pain medications within 1 – 3 weeks. Other medications like anti-hypertensive drugs will be revised by your internist. Past endovascular coiling, particular patients may be on “blood-thinners”, such as Plavix or aspirin.

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