Craniotomy Cost in Vilnius

Elective craniotomies are performed to gain brain access for various non-emergency indications, including tumor resection, aneurysm clipping, AVM repair, epilepsy surgery, or DBS. The target is to address neurological pathologies that are not immediately life-threatening but cause progressive malfunctioning or long-term disability potential.

There is a need for neurological evaluation if a patient presents with persistent headache, seizure, focal neurological deficit (weakness, vision changes, or speech difficulties), or cognitive decline. A space-occupying lesion or vascular anomaly on imaging (MRI or CT) usually places the patient under elective neurosurgical consultation.

The preoperative preparation phase includes neuroimaging (MRI, MR angiography, or functional MRI), neuropsychological testing, and medical checkup (electrocardiogram, laboratory tests, and anesthesia evaluation). Under supervision, anticoagulants and antiplatelet agents are stopped. Patient education about what to expect during and after the procedure, informed consent regarding the risks, and the recovery process are also necessary.

The term craniotomy refers to the removal of the skull to access the brain directly. Under general anaesthesia, a tailored skin incision and bone flap are made to locate the lesion. Intraoperative neuronavigation and electrophysiological monitoring can increase the procedure's precision and prevent collateral damage. Finally, the bone flap is fixed, and the skin incision is sutured.

It is widely variable, sometimes highly depending on the indication for surgery or the case's complexity. Removing a simple tumour generally takes 3-4 hours, but it can take 6-8 hours or even more for complex cases such as AVM excision or functional mapping.

• Hemorrhage
• Infection (e.g., meningitis)
• Cerebral edema
• Seizures
• Cerebrospinal fluid leak
• Stroke
• Neurological deficits (temporary or permanent)

Elective craniotomies performed correctly provide significant opportunities for reducing tumor burden, alleviating neurological symptoms, preventing hemorrhagic events, and improving quality of life. Considerable symptom control and reduced dependency on medications may also be achieved in certain instances of epilepsy surgery and DBS.

Initial postoperative recovery includes ICU monitoring for the first 24 to 48 hours and then transfer to the neurosurgical ward. Most patients are discharged within 5 to 10 days, and complete functional recovery depends on the type of surgery and the patient's preoperative condition. Rehabilitation-physical, occupational, or speech therapies-may be needed. Following this, postoperative imaging is carried out to verify the surgical results.

The success rates depend on the surgical indication but are generally high for elective cases. Removal of tumors can have around 80 to 90% success in relieving symptoms or controlling the disease. Functional operations such as DBS or epilepsy surgery show significant improvement in 60\u201385% of cases in appropriately selected patients.