Tiny platinum coils have helped to save the life of a 14-year-old boy who suffered from a rare brain haemorrhage, it has been reported.

According to the Scotsman, Jack Pearson was diagnosed with a spontaneous subarachnoid haemorrhage on arrival at the Gilbert Bain hospital in the burgh of Lerwick, Shetland, after earlier collapsing in pain.

The condition is fatal in more than 50 per cent of cases, with patients normally in their 40s and 50s rather than their teens.

In fact, so rare was the aneurism which caused the haemorrhage that Jack was transferred to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary for emergency brain surgery, and he was given a one-in-ten chance of survival.

During surgery, the burst blood vessels were repaired, with platinum coils placed inside the aneurism to stop more blood flowing into the problem area, and blood-thinning drugs also used for this purpose.

Jack is now on the road to recovery, although Dr Robin Sellar, one of the boy's doctors, told the news provider he is a "very lucky boy".

Source:

Meet the miracle boy who had a one-in-ten chance of surviving rare illness – and won (10/08/09)

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