Deep Brain Stimulation Cost in Turkey

A. The cost of Deep Brain Stimulation in Turkey may differ from one medical facility to the other. The cost quoted by some of the best hospitals for Deep Brain Stimulation in Turkey generally covers the pre-surgery investigations of the patient. The Deep Brain Stimulation package in Turkey includes the fees of the surgeon, hospitalization, and anesthesia as well. Stay outside the package duration, post-operative complications and diagnosis of a new condition may further increase the cost.

A. Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is a neurosurgical technique used to treat movement abnormalities related to essential tremor, dystonia, Parkinson's disease (PD), and other neurological illnesses. It involves implanted electrodes and electrical stimulation.

When a patient's daily activities are interfered with by their medicine's adverse effects or the treatment has become less effective, doctors may utilize DBS to treat movement problems or neuropsychiatric diseases.

A. Many hospitals across the country offer Deep Brain Stimulation to international patients. The following are some of the most renowned hospitals for Deep Brain Stimulation in Turkey:

• Medical Park Gebze Hospital
• Bayindir Healthcare Group
• Medicana International Istanbul
• Medical Park Tokat Hospital
• Medical Park Canakkale Hospital
• Memorial Ankara Hospital
• Acibadem University Hospital Atakent
• Acibadem Hospital Taksim
• Memorial Antalya Hospital
• Baskent University Istanbul Hospital

A. After discharge from the hospital, the patient has to stay for another 21 days in the country for complete recovery. During this time, the patient undergoes medical tests and consultations. This is to ensure that the treatment was successful and the patient is safe to return.

A. One of the topmost destinations for Deep Brain Stimulation is Turkey. It has a variety of accredited hospital, affordable cost of treatment and some of the best medical fraternity. Some of the other destinations that are popular for Deep Brain Stimulation include the following:

• South Korea
• Switzerland
• South Africa
• Tunisia
• Saudi Arabia
• The United Kingdom
• Malaysia
• Israel
• Thailand
• Greece

A. There are certain expenses additional to the Deep Brain Stimulation cost that the patient may have to pay for. These are the charges for daily meals and hotel stay outside the hospital. The extra charges may vary average around USD$ 40.

A. Deep Brain Stimulation in Turkey is offered in almost all metropolitan cities, including the following:

• Istanbul
• Kocaeli
• Antalya

A. After the Deep Brain Stimulation takes place, the average duration of stay at the hospital is about 2 days. This time frame is important for the patient to recover properly and feel comfotable after the surgery. With the help of several tests, it is determined that the patient is doing fine after the surgery and is okay to be discharged.

A. The average rating of hospitals for Deep Brain Stimulation in Turkey is 5.0. This rating is automatically calculated on the basis of several parameters such as the infrastructure of the hospital, quality of services, nursing support and other services.

A. There are about 39 Deep Brain Stimulation hospitals in Turkey that are best known for their services. These hospitals have proper infrastructure for the treatment of patients who require Deep Brain Stimulation

A. Deep brain stimulation is a neurosurgical procedure to manage various disorders related to the brain. A lead is inserted at specific areas of the brain and is connected to a neurostimulator with the help of insulated wires. Neurostimulator is placed well below the collarbone and its function is to generate the electrical impulses. These impulses help manage the irregular impulses occurring in the brain as seen in various movement disorders.

Deep brain stimulation is generally recommended for patients suffering from the following disorders:

• Parkinson’s disease: It is a progressive neurological disorder in which nerve cell degenerates due to the reduced level of dopamine. Parkinson's disease affects the movement. Although the disease is not cured through deep brain stimulation, it helps in controlling the symptoms such as rigidity, tremor, walking problems.
• Dystonia: It is a neurological movement disorder which causes involuntary muscle contraction which leads to uncontrollable, slow or jerky movement of the head, limbs, trunk, or neck.
• Multiple Sclerosis: It is an autoimmune disease, which affects the nervous system including the brain and spinal cord. In this disease, the immune system attacks the myelin sheath ( that covers the nerve fibers) and causes communication problems between the brain and the body parts.
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder: It is a type of mental illness characterized by fear without any reason.
• Major depression: It is a common and serious medical illness in which a person has a loss of interest in various activities and has mood swings.
• Essential Tremor: It is a neurological disorder that causes an involuntary shaking movement.
• Tourette Syndrome: It is a neurological condition that causes repetitive quick movements or unwanted sounds.
• Chronic pain: Pain is a signal from the nervous system which causes discomfort to the patient. Chronic pain may last for a few weeks, months or years.
• Epilepsy is a neurological condition marked by periodic seizures.

A. Within the last decade, Turkey has become one of the fast-growing countries in the field of medical tourism. Turkey has provided deep brain surgery at an affordable price as compared to other western countries. There are following reasons to undergo treatment through deep brain surgery in Turkey:

• 49 Turkish clinics have been received a quality certificate by the International Joint Commission.
• Turkish government attracts a large number of investments in healthcare sectors.
• Turkey hospitals provide world-class facilities, with the latest diagnostic procedures, and highly qualified and internationally trained surgeons.
• The success rate for deep brain stimulation surgery is very high in Turkey.
• Turkey government has provided a unique visa-free policy.
• Patients can easily travel to Turkey from Europe and the Middle east.

A. The affordable price for deep brain stimulation in Turkey is one of the main factors which attracts a large number of medical tourists every year. Many JCI-Certified Turkey hospitals offer competitive price as compared to other European and western countries like the US, Australia, etc. The average cost of deep brain stimulation is USD 35,000. There are various factors which affect the overall cost of deep brain stimulation in Turkey which include:

• Types of hospitals
• Hospital location
• Experienced surgeons with advanced degree neurological science
• The quality or brand of the stimulator is used
• Surgeons fee
• Pre-surgery testing charges
• Used of the latest medical technologies
• Medication cost
• Physical therapist session
• Patients health status
• High success rate

A. Following are some of the types of Deep Brain Stimulation:

Globus Pallidus DBS: Although this technique is not effective in preventing gait and imbalance in Parkinson's disease, it has the potential to manage other symptoms such as involuntary movements. It is less effective than Subthalamic DBS when it comes to alleviating symptoms.

Thalamic DBS: This technique has limited use because of its complications related to speaking and swallowing.

Subthalamic DBS: It is one of the highly recommended DBS because of its efficacy in managing the symptoms and reducing the dose or stopping medications. Pedunculopontine nucleus DBS: It is relatively a new technique with the potential of managing various symptoms of Parkinson’s disease and other neurological disorders.

A. The top hospitals in Turkey for deep brain stimulation are:

• Memorial Sisli Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey
• Memorial Atasehir Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey
• Hizmet Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey
• Memorial Antalya Hospital, Antalya, Turkey
• Memorial Bahçelievler Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey
• Memorial Dicle Hospital, Diyarbakir, Turkey
• Memorial Kayseri Hospital, Kayseri, Turkey
• Medipol Mega Hastaneler, Istanbul, Turkey
• Liv Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey
• Anadolu Medical Center, Kocaeli, Turkey

A. There are following neuro-surgeons in Turkey for deep brain stimulation:

• Dr. Ali Zırh, Medipol Mega Hastaneler, Istanbul, Turkey
• Dr. Mustafa Önöz, Memorial Atasehir Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey
• Dr. Salim Şentürk, Hizmet Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey
• Dr. Prof. Mahmut Akyüz, Memorial Antalya Hospital, Antalya, Turkey
• Dr. Kemal Paksoy, Memorial Bahçelievler Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey
• Dr. Adil Yilmaz, Memorial Dicle Hospital, Diyarbakir, Turkey
• Prof. Ahmet Menkü, Memorial Kayseri Hospital, Kayseri, Turkey

A. The patient is required to stay in the hospital for at least one day after surgery but in some cases, the surgeon may advise staying for two days. The deep brain stimulation programming takes around 3 to 4 weeks after surgery. There are following recovery process after surgery:

• Patients should not take showers specifically in the area around the incision.
• Use a gentle shampoo and avoid hair conditioner.
• Do not apply any ointment to the area of the incision
• Do not lift heavy items ( more than 10 pounds)
• Patients should wash heads by using a damp cloth carefully.
• Stitches and staples are removed around 7 to 10 days after surgery
• Heavy activities and swimming are avoided for 4 to 6 weeks of surgery.
• The neurostimulator has been activated by specialists after a few weeks of surgery which is customized by a special remote control.
• The specialist advised to turn off the neurostimulator at night and turning on in the morning according to the patient's condition.
• Medication that complements DBS may need to be continued or adjusted. Continual follow-up facilitates the co-management of DBS therapy and medicines.
• Keep an eye out for any issues that might occur, like infections, device failures, or symptom changes. Inform your healthcare practitioner of any concerns as soon as possible.
• Physical therapy may be suggested to aid with any changes in your physical state or to optimize improvements in your functional abilities, depending on your condition.

Following DBS surgery, recovery involves a variety of steps, including immediate post-operative care, follow-up for device programming and adjustment, rehabilitation, and continuous monitoring. For the DBS therapy to be successful and to manage any possible dangers or side effects, each phase is essential.

A. Both the patient and their healthcare team carefully consider these factors before deciding whether to undergo DBS. An outline of the advantages and disadvantages of DBS is provided below:

Risks:

• Infection: There is a chance of infection in the brain or at the location of implantation.
• Bleeding: There may be bleeding around the surgery site or into the brain.
• Anesthesia complications: Risks associated with administering general anesthetic during a procedure.
• Cognitive changes: Memory loss and focus problems are examples of cognitive alterations that some patients may encounter.
• Risk of developing new or aggravating motor symptoms, such as weakness or issues with coordination.
• Device Malfunction: The possibility that the device will malfunction or fail and need to be replaced or repaired.
• Mood Shifts: Affected individuals may go through periods of sadness or anxiety.
• Speech and Swallowing Problems: A few patients may have trouble swallowing or speaking.
• Lead Displacement: Additional surgery may be necessary if the electrodes move or become dislodged.

Benefits:

• Parkinson's disease: can greatly enhance movement and function by reducing motor symptoms such as bradykinesia, stiffness, and tremors.
• Essential Tremor: Frequently provides significant tremor alleviation, enhancing fine motor abilities and overall quality of life.
• Dystonia: Can improve everyday functioning and comfort by reducing muscle spasms and abnormal postures.
• OCD: In certain cases, the intensity of obsessive-compulsive symptoms may be lessened, enhancing quality of life.
• Reduces the frequency and intensity of tics in Tourette Syndrome.
• Chronic Pain: When all other options have been exhausted, this may help manage pain.