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Brain Aneurysm Treatment in Hampton, Stockbridge, Fayetteville, and Atlanta, GA

A brain aneurysm can be discovered unexpectedly during imaging, after new neurologic symptoms, or in the emergency setting if an aneurysm ruptures. Each situation raises different questions. Some aneurysms can be monitored, while others may need treatment because of their anatomy, symptoms, or risk of bleeding.

At Nova Brain and Spine, we provide neurosurgical evaluation and treatment for cerebral aneurysms and other complex cerebrovascular conditions. Dr. Marcus Stephens completed additional fellowship training in skull base and open cerebrovascular neurosurgery and performs cerebral aneurysm clipping and cerebral bypass surgery.

If you have been diagnosed with an aneurysm, we can review the imaging, explain the anatomy, and discuss whether surgical treatment is appropriate.

Patients from Hampton, Stockbridge, Fayetteville, and Atlanta, GA, as well as the surrounding region, can contact us online or call (770) 515-8770 to schedule a consultation or second opinion.

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Call 770-515-8770

3

Hospital partners across metro Atlanta

~1 week

Typical wait to be evaluated by a neurosurgeon

4–6 wks

General framework for surgical healing

2

Fellowship-trained neurosurgeons on your case

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What Is a Brain Aneurysm?

A brain aneurysm, also called a cerebral aneurysm, is a bulge in the wall of a brain artery where it has weakened. Many aneurysms are small and cause no symptoms. Some remain stable for years and are discovered only because imaging was performed for another reason.

The primary concern is that an aneurysm can rupture. If that happens, blood can escape into the space surrounding the brain and cause a subarachnoid hemorrhage, a life-threatening form of bleeding that requires immediate emergency care.

The fact that an aneurysm exists does not automatically mean that it will rupture or that it needs surgery. Treatment decisions depend on the individual aneurysm and the person carrying it.

Why Choose Nova Brain and Spine for Brain Aneurysm Treatment?

As Georgia’s Comprehensive Brain and Spine Center, we combine advanced cerebrovascular surgery with the direct involvement of physicians and the personal attention of an independent neurosurgical practice.

Advanced Cerebrovascular Neurosurgical Training

Brain aneurysm surgery requires working directly around the arteries that supply the brain.

After completing neurosurgical residency, Dr. Stephens pursued additional fellowship training in skull base and open cerebrovascular neurosurgery. His cranial practice includes cerebral aneurysm clipping, cerebral bypass surgery, brain tumor surgery, and other technically complex procedures involving critical brain anatomy.

Cerebral Aneurysm Clipping

Dr. Stephens performs open surgical clipping of cerebral aneurysms.

Clipping allows the neurosurgeon to directly expose the aneurysm and place a clip across its neck so blood can no longer enter the weakened portion of the vessel.

The procedure requires careful preservation of the normal artery and nearby branches that continue supplying blood to the brain.

Direct Access to Your Neurosurgeon

At Nova Brain and Spine, you meet directly with your neurosurgeon for an aneurysm evaluation.

You should have the opportunity to understand what the imaging shows, why an aneurysm may or may not need treatment, and what a proposed operation would involve before making a decision about brain surgery.

If surgery is performed, your neurosurgeon remains directly involved in your hospital care and postoperative follow-up.

Timely Evaluation

Learning that you have a brain aneurysm can make waiting for answers particularly difficult.

We stay closely involved in our intake process, and patients can often see one of our surgeons within days or approximately one week, depending on scheduling and the individual situation.

A suspected ruptured aneurysm is different. Sudden symptoms consistent with a brain hemorrhage require immediate emergency care.

Evidence-Based Care With a Human Connection

An aneurysm can create fear even when it was found incidentally and has never caused a symptom.

We take the time to explain what is known, what still needs to be evaluated, and why we are recommending monitoring or treatment.

Ruptured vs. Unruptured Brain Aneurysms

A major distinction in brain aneurysm care is whether the aneurysm has ruptured.

Unruptured Brain Aneurysm

An unruptured aneurysm has not bled. Many unruptured aneurysms are discovered incidentally during a CT scan, MRI, or vascular study performed for another reason.

Some can be monitored over time. Others may warrant treatment depending on their size, shape, location, growth, symptoms, and other clinical factors.

Ruptured Brain Aneurysm

A ruptured aneurysm allows blood to escape into the space around the brain. This can cause a subarachnoid hemorrhage and requires emergency hospital treatment.

A ruptured aneurysm may also lead to additional complications involving pressure on the brain, blood flow, neurologic function, and other systems.

The immediate priority is stabilizing the patient and addressing the source of the bleeding.

What Are the Symptoms of a Brain Aneurysm?

Many unruptured brain aneurysms cause no symptoms.

When symptoms do occur, they depend largely on the aneurysm’s size, location, and whether it is pressing on nearby nerves or brain structures.

Possible symptoms include:

  • Headache
  • Pain around or behind an eye
  • Vision changes
  • Double vision
  • Facial numbness or weakness
  • Other neurologic symptoms related to the aneurysm’s location

These symptoms can have many causes other than a brain aneurysm. A ruptured aneurysm usually presents very differently.

What Does a Ruptured Brain Aneurysm Feel Like?

A ruptured brain aneurysm can cause sudden, severe symptoms. The classic warning sign is an abrupt, extremely severe headache that may be described as the worst headache of a person’s life.

Other symptoms may include:

  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Neck stiffness
  • Light sensitivity
  • Loss of consciousness
  • Seizure
  • Confusion
  • Weakness or numbness
  • Difficulty speaking
  • Vision changes

Call 911 immediately if a sudden, severe headache or other acute neurologic symptoms develop. Do not wait for an outpatient appointment.

When a Brain Aneurysm Ruptures

A rupture can cause bleeding around or within the brain, which is why it is treated as a neurologic emergency.

Can a Brain Aneurysm Cause a Stroke?

Yes. A ruptured aneurysm can cause a hemorrhagic stroke when bleeding develops around or within the brain. Aneurysm-related bleeding is different from the more common ischemic stroke caused by a blocked artery. Both are serious neurologic emergencies, but they require different treatments.

Brain Aneurysms and Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

When a cerebral aneurysm ruptures, blood commonly enters the space between the brain and the thin tissues surrounding it. This is called a subarachnoid hemorrhage.

The bleeding itself can injure the brain, and additional complications can develop in the days that follow. Treatment, therefore, involves more than simply identifying the original source of bleeding.

A ruptured aneurysm requires emergency hospital care and close neurologic management.

How Is a Brain Aneurysm Diagnosed?

Brain aneurysms are identified through imaging of the brain and its blood vessels.

Depending on the situation, evaluation may include:

  • CT scan
  • MRI
  • CT angiography
  • MR angiography
  • Cerebral angiography

When treatment is being considered, the surgeon needs to understand more than whether an aneurysm is present. Its exact location, shape, neck, relationship to nearby arterial branches, and surrounding anatomy may all influence the treatment plan.

Does Every Brain Aneurysm Need Treatment?

No. Some aneurysms can be monitored rather than treated immediately, and the decision depends on balancing the risk posed by the aneurysm with the risks of treatment.

Factors that may be considered include:

  • Aneurysm size
  • Location
  • Shape
  • Changes over time
  • Whether symptoms are present
  • Whether the aneurysm has already ruptured
  • Patient age and overall health
  • Other medical and vascular factors

Two patients with aneurysms that appear similar at first glance may not receive the same recommendation, which is why individualized review of the imaging and clinical history is important.

When Is Brain Aneurysm Surgery Considered?

Surgery may be considered when the expected risk associated with the aneurysm makes treatment reasonable.

A ruptured aneurysm often requires urgent treatment to reduce the risk of additional bleeding. For an unruptured aneurysm, the decision can be more nuanced.

Your neurosurgeon considers the aneurysm’s anatomy along with your health and individual circumstances before recommending whether to monitor or treat it.

If surgery is recommended, we explain why we believe treatment is appropriate and what the operation is intended to accomplish.

Cerebral Aneurysm Clipping Surgery

Dr. Stephens performs cerebral aneurysm clipping as part of his open cerebrovascular practice.

What Is Cerebral Aneurysm Clipping?

Cerebral aneurysm clipping is an open neurosurgical procedure used to isolate an aneurysm from normal blood circulation.

The neurosurgeon reaches the aneurysm through a craniotomy and carefully separates it from nearby brain tissue, arteries, and other structures. A small clip is then placed across the neck of the aneurysm.

The clip prevents blood from continuing to enter the aneurysm while preserving normal blood flow through the artery and its important branches.

What Happens During Brain Aneurysm Clipping?

The exact operation depends on where the aneurysm is located.

After the patient is under anesthesia, the surgeon performs a craniotomy to create access to the appropriate part of the brain. The aneurysm and surrounding arteries are carefully exposed. Once the surgeon has identified the aneurysm’s neck and the vessels that need to remain open, the clip can be positioned.

The anatomy can be highly intricate because very small arterial branches may supply important parts of the brain. The operation is planned around the individual vascular anatomy rather than using one standard approach for every aneurysm.

What Is a Craniotomy for a Brain Aneurysm?

A craniotomy is an operation in which a section of the skull is temporarily removed so the surgeon can reach the brain and its blood vessels.

For aneurysm clipping, the opening provides a route to the affected artery. The surgeon then works under magnification to expose the aneurysm, protect surrounding blood vessels, and position the clip.

At the end of the operation, the bone is replaced and secured.

How Is Technology Used During Aneurysm Surgery?

Open cerebrovascular surgery requires detailed knowledge of the patient’s anatomy and careful surgical planning. Our surgeons routinely incorporate intraoperative navigation into cranial surgery when appropriate and work with a dedicated intraoperative neuromonitoring team during selected procedures.

These technologies can provide additional information during an operation, but they are tools that support the surgeon rather than substitutes for cerebrovascular training and judgment.

Clipping, Monitoring, and Other Options

Our focus is determining whether open cerebrovascular surgery is appropriate for the individual aneurysm and explaining the reasoning behind that recommendation.

Is Clipping the Only Treatment for a Brain Aneurysm?

No. Some aneurysms do not require immediate treatment, and not every aneurysm that does require treatment should be managed with open surgery.

The appropriate option depends on the aneurysm’s anatomy, rupture status, patient health, and other clinical factors.

What Is the Difference Between Aneurysm Clipping and Monitoring?

Monitoring means the aneurysm is followed over time without immediate surgery. This may include repeat imaging to determine whether the aneurysm is changing.

Clipping treats the aneurysm by surgically excluding it from blood circulation.

The decision between observation and treatment depends on the risk associated with leaving the aneurysm alone compared with the risks and potential benefits of intervention.

What to Expect at Your Brain Aneurysm Consultation

An outpatient consultation is appropriate for patients who are medically stable and have already been diagnosed with an unruptured aneurysm or another cerebrovascular condition.

Bring Your Imaging and Records

If possible, bring:

  • Brain imaging on a CD
  • CT angiography or MR angiography
  • Cerebral angiography, if performed
  • Radiology reports
  • Previous neurology or neurosurgery records
  • Hospital records, if relevant
  • Information about previous treatment
  • A current medication list

Bring Someone You Trust

We also encourage you to bring a family member or another trusted person who helps you make important healthcare decisions.

Meeting Your Surgeon

You will meet directly with your neurosurgeon. We review the imaging, discuss what is known about the aneurysm, and explain whether additional evaluation, monitoring, or surgical treatment should be considered.

Independent Practice, Connected to Piedmont Healthcare

Nova Brain and Spine is an independent neurosurgical practice partnered with the Piedmont Healthcare system.

When surgery requires hospitalization, your neurosurgeon remains directly involved in your care. That structure allows us to maintain the direct physician relationship of an independent practice while providing complex cranial surgery within major Georgia hospitals.

Our surgeons perform procedures at:

  • Piedmont Atlanta Hospital
  • Piedmont Fayette Hospital
  • Piedmont Henry Hospital

Preparing for Brain Aneurysm Surgery

If clipping is recommended for an unruptured aneurysm, we explain what needs to happen before the operation and what you can expect during recovery.

Preparation may include pre-anesthesia testing and other medical evaluation based on your health. We also discuss medications, postoperative limitations, anticipated help at home, and other practical parts of the recovery process.

On the day of surgery, your neurosurgeon sees you before the operation.

The preparation for emergency surgery after an aneurysm rupture is different because the patient’s immediate neurologic and medical condition determines how care proceeds.

Schedule a Consultation

Talk With a Neurosurgeon About Your Brain & Spine

At Nova Brain and Spine, your relationship is directly with your surgeon — before, during, and after your operation.

Portrait of Dr. Jerry Walters, neurosurgeon

Jerry Walters, MD

NEUROSURGEON · COMPLEX & MINIMALLY INVASIVE SPINE

Dr. Walters focuses on complex spine surgery and complex spinal revisions, and is among a limited number of neurosurgeons in Georgia performing OptiLIF ultra-minimally invasive lumbar fusion.

AREAS OF FOCUS

  • Complex spine surgery
  • Spinal revisions
  • OptiLIF
  • Minimally invasive fusion
Read More
Portrait of Dr. Marcus Stephens, neurosurgeon

Marcus Stephens, MD

NEUROSURGEON · BRAIN & SPINE

Dr. Stephens performs a wide range of spine procedures and evaluates complicated neurologic and spinal problems from a neurosurgical perspective, including trauma and metastatic spinal disease.

AREAS OF FOCUS

  • Cervical fusion
  • Lumbar fusion
  • Spinal trauma
  • Spinal tumors
Read More
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Recovery After Brain Aneurysm Clipping

Recovery varies considerably depending on whether the aneurysm was ruptured or unruptured, its location, the complexity of the operation, and the patient’s neurologic condition.

Recovery after a ruptured aneurysm can be much more involved because the brain must recover not only from surgery but also from the hemorrhage itself. Before discharge, you receive wound-care and postoperative instructions.

3–5 days

Typical hospital stay

Hospital stays for craniotomy are often approximately three to five days, although individual stays can be shorter or considerably longer depending on the situation.

~10 days

First postoperative visit

Our typical postoperative protocol includes a follow-up with your surgeon approximately 10 days after surgery for an incision check and early assessment of recovery.

4–6 weeks

Surgical site healing

For craniotomy procedures generally, we often advise patients to allow approximately four to six weeks for the surgical site to heal and to begin feeling more fully like themselves again.

Second Opinions for Brain Aneurysms

We welcome patients seeking another neurosurgical perspective before moving forward.

During a second-opinion consultation, we can review your vascular imaging, diagnosis, medical history, previous recommendations, and the proposed procedure. We want to help you understand why treatment has been recommended and whether open surgery makes sense for your particular aneurysm.

A second opinion may lead to a different recommendation, or it may confirm the plan you have already been given. Either can provide valuable clarity.

Talk with a Neurosurgeon About Brain Aneurysm Care in Atlanta, GA

Learning that you have a brain aneurysm can leave you wondering whether it is dangerous, whether it needs treatment, and how quickly you need to make a decision. We can help you understand what the imaging shows, what factors matter most, and whether surgery should be considered. We also take the time to listen, answer your questions, and care for you with the same attention and concern we would want for our own families.

For brain aneurysm evaluation or a second opinion in Hampton, Stockbridge, Fayetteville, Atlanta, GA, or the surrounding region, contact Nova Brain and Spine online or call (770) 515-8770.

If you develop a sudden, severe headache, loss of consciousness, seizure, or other acute neurologic symptoms, call 911 immediately.

Atlanta, GA, Brain Aneurysm FAQs

Still have questions?

Speak directly with the neurosurgeon who would be responsible for your care.

(770) 515-8770

Not always. Not every brain aneurysm carries the same risk. Some small, unruptured aneurysms can be monitored, while others may warrant treatment because of their size, shape, location, growth, symptoms, or other factors.

Yes. Many unruptured brain aneurysms do not cause symptoms and are discovered incidentally during imaging performed for another reason.

A rupture allows blood to escape from the artery, often into the space surrounding the brain. This can cause a subarachnoid hemorrhage and is a medical emergency.

A sudden, extremely severe headache is a classic warning sign. Other possible symptoms include nausea, vomiting, neck stiffness, loss of consciousness, seizure, confusion, weakness, or vision changes. Call 911 immediately if rupture is suspected.

No. Some aneurysms can be monitored. The decision depends on the individual aneurysm and the balance between the risk of rupture and the risks of treatment.

Clipping is an open neurosurgical procedure in which a small clip is placed across the neck of an aneurysm so blood can no longer enter it while normal circulation through the artery is preserved.

Yes. Dr. Stephens performs cerebral aneurysm clipping and completed additional fellowship training in skull base and open cerebrovascular neurosurgery.

Yes. Surgical clipping is performed through a craniotomy, which gives the neurosurgeon access to the aneurysm and surrounding blood vessels.

No. Some aneurysms are monitored, and other vascular treatment approaches may be considered depending on the anatomy and individual clinical situation. Open clipping is one treatment option.

Yes. A ruptured aneurysm can cause a hemorrhagic stroke by producing bleeding in or around the brain.

A subarachnoid hemorrhage is bleeding into the space surrounding the brain. Rupture of a cerebral aneurysm is one possible cause and requires emergency medical treatment.

It varies. For craniotomy procedures generally, we often tell patients to allow approximately four to six weeks for surgical healing. Recovery after a ruptured aneurysm can take considerably longer because the brain must also recover from the hemorrhage.

Hospital stays after craniotomy are often approximately three to five days, but the actual stay depends on the procedure and neurologic recovery. Hospitalization after a ruptured aneurysm may be substantially longer.

Yes. We provide second-opinion consultations for patients who have been diagnosed with an aneurysm or told they may need surgery.

Bring available brain and vascular imaging, including CTA, MRA, or cerebral angiography if performed, along with radiology reports, hospital records, previous consultation notes, and a current medication list.

Often within a few days. Patients can often be evaluated within days or approximately one week, depending on scheduling and the individual situation. Symptoms of a possible aneurysm rupture require emergency treatment rather than an outpatient appointment.