After an artery in her brain burst, Sarit Roshanski Dahan’s life was saved by Dr. Yaakov Amsalem, head of the Interventional Neuro-Radiology Unit, part of our Helmsley Neurological Institute.

Sarit, a 40 year old gym teacher, didn’t feel well and then collapsed on the field during a ball game. She was taken to the emergency room at Rambam Health Care Campus. After several days, the doctors found that she had a cerebral hemorrhage and brain aneurysm that were life threatening. The medical team then transferred her to Shaare Zedek Medical Center to receive treatment in our Interventional Neuro-Radiology Unit.

Dr. Amsalem explained, “Sarit arrived at Shaare Zedek with tearing in the inner part of the artery (dissection) and a tiny incision that was bleeding in the artery adjacent to the brain stem…This is a rare situation and up until three or four years ago, we did not have the technology to treat such patients. 50% of patients suffering from aneurysms die due to massive bleeding in the brain. Even closing the artery could result in the patient being paralyzed or dying…Using the most advanced technology,including baby stents, we were able to save the patient. During the treatment we delved into the artery gently (to avoid tearing it) and we build it from new using a metal support system (a tight net)…during the recuperation process the artery builds itself around the stent and the stent becomes part of the artery and the aneurysm closes up.”