ABOUT CRANIOTOMY
A craniotomy is a skilled neurosurgical procedure in which a section of the skull is removed, in order to expose the brain.
The procedure is used to treat a range of conditions affecting the brain. The piece of skull that is removed is referred to as a bone flap, and after the procedure this is generally replaced and held in place with plates and screws, covering the exposed part of the brain.
Depending on the site of the incision, a craniotomy may be referred to as frontotemporal, parietal, temporal, or suboccipital. In addition, craniotomies can have different sizes and complexity. Smaller operations on the skull are called burr holes and they are used for minimally invasive procedures like the insertion of a shunt for cerebrospinal fluid drainage, deep brain stimulators (these are used to treat Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy etc), and intracranial pressure monitors.
Larger craniotomies are called skull base surgeries and are clearly more complex, as they are used to expose a large section of the brain and the most delicate arteries and nerves are involved. For this type of surgery, the neurosurgeon will most likely be assisted by head-and-neck, plastic and/or otologic surgeons to restore the part of the brain after the surgery.
Recommended for
Brain surgery may be required to treat conditions such as Parkinson’s and epilepsy, as well as for brain aneurysms or brain tumors. Sometimes a craniotomy is also performed in cases of head injury.
TIME REQUIREMENTS
- Number of days in hospital: 2 – 3 days.
Depending on the reasons for this procedure, hospital stay varies from only 2 to 3 days up to 2 weeks or more.
- Time off work
Full recovery may take up to 8 weeks.
COMPARE CRANIOTOMY PRICES AROUND THE WORLD
| Country | Cost |
|---|---|
| United States | 68000€ |
| Israel | 38660€ |
| Germany | 8781€ |
| India | 7249€ |
| Turkey | 2815€ |
| Tunisia | 1300€ |
HOW TO FIND QUALITY TREATMENT ABROAD
BEFORE CRANIOTOMY ABROAD
The patient will undergo several exams before of the surgery, like CT scans, MRI scans, blood tests, electrocardiograms, and chest X-ray.
Ahead of the surgery, the patient will be given advice on how to prepare. Before general anesthetic, the patient should not eat or drink, usually from around midnight the night before the surgery.
HOW IS IT PERFORMED
Usually the surgery is done under general anesthetic, however in some cases brain surgery may be performed with just a local anesthetic. This “awake brain surgery” can help to lower the risk of causing any neurological damage.
During the surgery, the skull is fixed into place with a device to make sure the patient’s head will stay still. After this, an incision behind the hairline will be performed. Sometimes only a small incision can be made, (1 to 4 inches), hence the patient can be shaved in a very small area. Other times, the entire area will be shaved.
Once the procedure has been completed, the bone flap is fixed into place again using plates and screws, and the scalp is sutured.
Anesthesia
General anesthesia will be administered.
Procedure duration
Craniotomy times may vary. Depending on the complexity of the procedure it usually lasts from 3 to 5 hours, but it can last longer if the surgery is very complex.
WHAT TO EXPECT AFTER CRANIOTOMY
Post procedure care
After the procedure the patient will be taken to the recovery room where vital signs are checked until the patient recovers from the anesthesia. When awake, the patient will be asked to frequently move his limbs to see if there has been any nerve damage.
A nurse will also check the pupils and talk to the patient to check their brain function. Once the patient is normal, they are moved to their room, and after a few days or weeks according to the procedure complexity, he will be discharged. Stitches are usually removed after 10 days. The patient will need to avoid driving, lifting heavy objects and moving too quickly. Walking is usually encouraged in order to restore the patient’s activity level.
Possible discomfort
- After surgery, headache pain and nausea are managed with medications.
- An anticonvulsant medicine may be prescribed temporarily to prevent seizures.
IMPORTANT THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT CRANIOTOMY
Potential risks
- Stroke
- Seizures
- Brain swelling, which may require a second craniotomy to amend the pressure
- Nerve damage, which can lead to nerve weakness or paralysis
- Loss of mental function, and permanent brain damage with associated disabilities
