Brain Surgery Through the Wrist | Rela Hospital Performs India’s First Wrist-Based Aneurysm Procedure

Chennai, February 2, 2026: Rela Hospital has successfully performed India’s first right transradial WEB embolisation, a cutting-edge minimally invasive procedure to treat a ruptured brain aneurysm, saving the life of a 60-year-old woman with a rare and complex wide-neck aneurysm.

(L to R) Dr. Mohamed Nidhal S, Associate Consultant – Neuroanesthesiology & Neurocritical Care; Dr. M. Anbuselvam, Senior Consultant - Neurosurgeon; Dr. Natesan Damodaran,Clinical Lead - Epilepsy & Functional Neurosurgery; Prof. Mohamed Rela, Chairman, Rela Hospital; Dr. Muralidharan Vetrivel,Consultant - Cerebrovascular & Neurooncology, Neurosciences; Dr. Ramanan Rajagopal, Clinical Lead - Neuroanaesthesia and Intensive Care; Dr. Sharanya Shankar, Neuro Emergency Physician

The patient, a Chennai-based homemaker, was rushed to the hospital after experiencing a sudden, severe headache followed by loss of consciousness. On arrival, she was found to have extremely high blood pressure of 230/140 mmHg. Emergency CT imaging and cerebral digital subtraction angiography (DSA) revealed bleeding around the brain caused by a high-risk wide-neck aneurysm located at a bifurcation point, where a blood vessel splits into two.

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Given the critical nature of the condition, doctors performed an emergency embolisation using the Woven EndoBridge (WEB) device—an advanced implant placed directly inside the aneurysm to block blood flow, allowing it to clot, shrink, and become inactive. Uniquely, the device was delivered through the right wrist (radial artery) rather than the traditional groin approach, eliminating the need for stents or prolonged dual antiplatelet medication.

The procedure was led by Dr. Muralidharan Vetrivel, Cerebrovascular Neurosurgeon and Neurointerventionist, with support from Dr. Natesan Damodaran, Senior Neurosurgeon, and Dr. Ramanan Rajagopal, Clinical Lead in Neuroanesthesia.

Commenting on the achievement, Prof. Mohamed Rela, Chairman, Rela Hospital, said, “This marks the first time in India that a WEB device has been deployed in a ruptured cerebral aneurysm through a transradial approach. Treating wide-neck and bifurcation aneurysms is extremely challenging. This breakthrough allows us to manage such life-threatening conditions without opening the skull, significantly reducing surgical trauma and recovery time.”

Dr. Muralidharan Vetrivel added that the procedure used specially designed catheters suitable for radial access and advanced support systems, including the RIST system, to safely navigate brain vessels. “The WEB device is uniquely designed for wide-neck aneurysms and enables effective treatment through a small puncture in the wrist,” he said.

The patient is recovering well and has been shifted out of the ICU. She is expected to remain hospitalised for 14–21 days for close monitoring, blood pressure control, and medication optimisation.

Doctors noted that intracranial aneurysms in India affect an estimated 76,500 to 204,100 people annually, with hypertension being the leading risk factor. Sudden, severe headaches—often described as the “worst headache of life”—especially when accompanied by neck pain or loss of consciousness, require immediate medical attention.

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