Slipped in her house – and discovered a “ticking bomb” in her brain

Tzipi Rappaport, 68, from Move Hama, did not imagine that a fall at home due to a wet floor would lead to a discovery that would save her life: She slipped in her home due to a leak, and was rushed to the emergency room of the North Medical Center (Poriya) suffering from head and back pain. As part of the tests she underwent there, the doctors also performed a brain CT scan – which revealed a particularly worrying finding: a large cerebral aneurysm that was not at all related to the fall.

“When they informed me that they had found an aneurysm, I was shocked,” Rapaport says. According to her, the situation flooded her with a painful memory of her neighbor, who died suddenly at the age of only 61 from an aneurysm, in the middle of a phone call.

After a catheterization for a diagnosis that was performed on her at the hospital, it was decided to perform an elective brain catheterization for the purpose of sealing the aneurysm. “A cerebral aneurysm is usually ‘quiet’ until the moment it explodes – and then the result can be fatal,” explains Dr. Eran Meirovitch, director of the brain catheterization unit at the medical center. “In Tzipi’s case, the vigilance of the team in examining the CT results allowed us to locate the problem in time, before a cerebral hemorrhage occurred. This is exactly the difference between planned and life-saving treatment and a life-threatening emergency.”

As part of the catheterization Rapaport underwent, the doctors sealed the aneurysm using tiny coils that are inserted through a catheter into the blood vessels in the brain. “These are extremely thin and flexible metal wires that curl inside the aneurysm and create a kind of dense “bulb” that slows down the blood flow to it and significantly reduces the risk of rupture and life-threatening cerebral hemorrhage,” explains Dr. Meirovich.

“The procedure is performed using a catheter that is inserted through a blood vessel in the groin or hand and advances to the brain under mirroring. The coils themselves remain in the body permanently, and are usually not felt at all,” he explains. According to him, most of the time brain aneurysms can be treated very effectively – especially when they are discovered before bleeding occurs.

“Ruthless Statistics”

The medical data behind a brain aneurysm are shocking and explain why Tzipi’s chance diagnosis was so critical. “In the case of a cerebral hemorrhage as a result of a ruptured aneurysm, the statistics are merciless,” emphasizes Dr. Meirovitch. “Over 70% of cases end in death or severe disability. In fact, less than a quarter of patients manage to return to independent functioning after such an event. Therefore, an elective (planned) catheterization performed before the aneurysm bleeds, completely changes the picture and the chances of recovery.”

The medical center emphasizes that in cases of unusual headaches or when it comes to people with a family history of aneurysms, it is important to consult a doctor about performing dedicated tests such as CTA or MRA of the blood vessels. “These are tests that can detect aneurysms at an early stage and enable life-saving treatment,” explains Dr. Meirovich.

Prof. Noam Yehudai, director of the North Medical Center, said that Tzipi’s story illustrates how advanced psychiatric services in the North can save lives in real time. “The ability to perform complex brain catheterizations with high availability here allows the residents of the Galilee, the Golan and the valleys to receive life-saving treatment close to home, without having to evacuate to the center of the country.”

For Rappaport, mother of three and grandmother of five, the story ended with a sense of great relief. “I really need to say thank you for falling,” she says. “Dr. Meirovitch is not only a professional and expert doctor who instilled confidence and calm in me at every moment. Despite the pain from the fall, it was very lucky. In the end, it was this fall that saved my life.”