Survivors of brain aneurysms and their family members are the driving force behind a new guide for patients at The Ottawa Hospital on what to expect when recovering from this kind of stroke. 

The survivors were originally engaged as patient partners in a critical care research project, advising researchers on how to ensure that their work was relevant to patients, making it more likely to improve care. While reflecting on their journeys with aneurysms, these patient partners noted there were many things they wish they had known during their recovery. 

With their help, Dr. Shane English’s group and the brain injury rehabilitation team modified a Brain Aneurysm Foundation guide to include the information that they think is most helpful to patients and their families as they begin their recovery. 

Aneurysms can affect younger and seemingly healthy people, and recovery can take a long time and is different for each person. Many people do not know what to expect once they leave the hospital. The guide, available on TOH's Acquired Brain Injury page, aims to help with this by addressing potential physical, functional, social and emotional changes, and the return to regular activities.

Authors: Xiaohui Zha, Maria Luisa Marti, Victoria Saigle, Gordon Fernie, Shane English, Shawn Marshall, Chantal Barber, Laura Rees, Gabrielle Papineau, Lucia Ghadimi.

The Ottawa Hospital is a leading academic health, research and learning hospital proudly affiliated with the University of Ottawa and supported by The Ottawa Hospital Foundation.