Filters
A hemispherectomy is a special brain surgery where doctors remove or disconnect the half of your brain that causes bad seizures. Before the surgery, the doctors do tests like brain scans and give you a short sleep test to find out exactly where the seizures start. During the surgery, they gently open the skull, do the procedure, and then put everything back in place carefully.
After surgery, you will stay in the hospital for a few days so doctors and nurses can watch how you’re doing. You’ll probably feel sleepy and need time to heal, but soon you'll begin therapy to help you learn to move, speak, and do everyday tasks again. Medicines that help control seizures will be adjusted over time. Many kids feel much better afterwards and can resume activities like attending school, playing with friends, and learning new things.
Hemispherectomy is a rare but life-changing neurosurgical procedure performed to treat severe, intractable epilepsy that originates from one cerebral hemisphere.It is typically used when seizures do not respond to medications and are caused by extensive damage or malformation in one side of the brain.The goal is to remove or disconnect the affected hemisphere to stop seizure activity, reduce neurological decline, and improve quality of life.
Consult a pediatric or adult epileptologist if you or your child has drug-resistant epilepsy, especially if seizures are frequent, disabling, or result in developmental regression.Early evaluation is critical if imaging (MRI, EEG, PET) shows unilateral cortical dysplasia, Rasmussen’s encephalitis, Sturge-Weber syndrome, or hemimegalencephaly.Surgery is considered when seizures are disabling and localized to one hemisphere, and other treatments have failed.
Preparation involves an extensive pre-surgical epilepsy evaluation, including:
- Video EEG monitoring to localize seizure origin
- MRI, PET, or MEG scans to assess brain structure and function
- Neuropsychological testing to evaluate cognitive and language baseline
- Multidisciplinary team discussion to ensure the patient is a surgical candidate
- Patients may also need blood work and a pre-anesthesia evaluation.
Hemispherectomy is done under general anesthesia and may take several forms:
- Anatomic Hemispherectomy: Physical removal of one hemisphere (rarely performed today)
- Functional Hemispherectomy: Disconnects the dysfunctional hemisphere while leaving most of it in place
- Hemidecortication or Hemispherotomy: Disconnection of cortical fibers and seizure pathways with minimal tissue removal
- A large craniotomy is performed, and the surgeon uses microsurgical tools to isolate or remove the affected hemisphere. Advanced intraoperative imaging and neuro-navigation are used for precision.
The surgery typically takes 6 to 12 hours, depending on the technique and extent of brain involvement.Postoperative ICU monitoring is usually required for 1–2 days, followed by a hospital stay of 7 to 14 days.Rehabilitation planning begins early in the recovery period.
- Hemiparesis or weakness on the opposite side (usually pre-existing and expected to remain)
- Hydrocephalus requiring a shunt
- Infection, bleeding, or stroke
- Visual field loss (hemianopia)
- Cognitive or behavioral changes
- Seizure recurrence (rare if seizure focus is fully remo Surgery is generally well-tolerated in children due to brain plasticity and the presence of already impaired function in the affected hemisphere.
- Seizure freedom in up to 85% of patients
- Improved developmental outcomes, especially in children
- Reduces reliance on anti-seizure medications
- Prevents further cognitive and neurological regression
- Improves overall quality of life, schooling, and social development
Recovery includes close neurological monitoring, followed by intensive rehabilitation for motor function, language, and adaptive skills.Most patients remain hospitalized for 1–2 weeks before transitioning to an inpatient or outpatient neuro-rehab facility.Physical, occupational, and speech therapy are key to maximizing long-term function. Educational support and caregiver training are also essential.
Hemispherectomy offers seizure freedom in 70–85% of patients and significant seizure reduction in over 90%.Younger patients often achieve better outcomes due to neuroplasticity, allowing the remaining hemisphere to adapt.Cognitive and developmental improvements are often seen within months to years post-surgery when combined with consistent rehabilitation.
Would you like some help? We are available.
Get Help Explore Hospitals ( 95 )
Arab Medical Center
Amman, Jordan
- The hospital offers specialised and high-quality medical care to both local and international patients.
- It offers 24/7 emergency services with experienced staff and dedicated rooms for children and patients with infectious diseases.
- AMC performs advanced surgeries, including those for the brain, heart, bones, and eyes.
- The hospital has modern medical equipment and diagnostic tools for accurate testing and treatment.
- It includes speciality clinics for heart, cancer, brain, diabetes, and more.
- AMC supports critical care units like the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Coronary Care Unit (CCU), and dialysis unit.
- It ensures patient comfort through clean rooms, professional service, and luxury accommodation options.
- The hospital promotes medical education and awareness through services like the Arabi Podcast.
- AMC actively supports medical tourism and is known as a trusted referral hospital in the region.
- It focuses on continuous quality improvement and compassionate care for every patient.
- AMC has a loyalty program (Arabi Care Card) that offers benefits and discounts to regular patients.
- The hospital ensures easy accessibility due to its central location near major landmarks and hotels in Amman.
Sharda Hospital
Noida, India
Sharda Hospital located in Greater Noida, India is accredited by ISO, NABH. Also listed below are some of the most prominent infrastructural details:
- The hospital is equipped with the best of technologically advanced equipment.
- Sharda Hospital, Delhi has a bed capacity of 900.
- There are as many as 90 beds in the critical care section.
- The critical care facilities are present for general medicine, Pulmonology, Surgery, Paediatrics, Neonatology, Cardiology, Cardiothoracic surgery and Neurosciences.
- There are Centers of Excellence such as Institute of Child Care, Institute of Dental Sciences, Institute of Orthopedic & Spine,Institute of Neuro Sciences, Institute of Minimal Access Surgery etc.
- Virtual consultations in the form of Telemedicine and Teleradiology are a reality at an advanced hospital such as Sharda Hospital.
- There is also a Tele ICU facility that ensures that a virtual ICU is a functioning system. It is aided with audio visual communication systems, latest computers, a team which is networking and a physically present ICU team.
- 24/7 Emergency care available aided with buses as well as ambulances.
- Exceptional International patient care coordination is available throughout the system helping patients with transfer, travel, treatments.
Medeor Hospital
Delhi, India
Supported by the first class staff, Medeor Hospital is dedicated to providing the latest in medical advances. The hospital’s professional expertise is regarded as one of the finest in India. The centre provides acute specialist services and aims at delivering top-quality medical and patient care.
Infrastructure & Facilities:
- 24x7 Emergency, Diagnostics and Pharmacy services
- State of the art instruments
- Hi-tech ICUs
- Modular OTs
- High-end Medical Diagnostic Laboratories
- Highly Experienced Physicians & Surgeons
- Zero Bacteria Operation Theaters
- Modern Infrastructure Equipped with Advanced Facilities
- Radiology department equipped with advanced diagnostic imaging technologies like 1.5 tesla MRI, high-tech 160 CT Scan and dual detector X – ray
- Cardiac Catheterization Lab having Hybrid Operating Room
- Linear Accelerator, Brachytherapy Suite, Wide Bore CT Simulator
- Slice CT Scan, CT Simulation
- Slice PET CT, Dual Head 6 Slice SPECT CT
- Facilitation counter at International Airport, New Delhi
- Translator of different languages
- Assistance in lodging, boarding and ticketing
- Wi-Fi and local SIM cards
- Tele-medicine, e-consultation and post discharge follow up
- Foreign exchange services
- Prayer and meditation rooms
Asian Institute of Medical Sciences
Faridabad, India
Asian Institute of Medical Sciences located in Faridabad, India is accredited by NABH, NABL. Also listed below are some of the most prominent infrastructural details:
- 425 bed capacity
- Preventive and diagnostic sevices of the hospital are its strength.
- It is also well recognised for the therapeutic and rehabilitative services.
- For patients who need end process care for advanced healthcare conditions, the palliative services that the hospital provides are a boon.
- The healthcare delivery of AIMS, Delhi/NCR is focused on patient care.
- Research focused organisation
- International Patient care center is present to liason with medical travellers
- Focus on Academics, various healthcare educational programmes
Dr. Rose Private Hospital
Budapest, Hungary
Dr. Rose Private Hospital located in Budapest, Hungary is accredited by JCI. Also listed below are some of the most prominent infrastructural details:
- Latest equipments and a daily focus on increasing the areas of specialisation
- The hospital upgraded their patient care services with obstetrics and professional healthcare services in 2010.
- It was in 2013 that Modern occupational healthcare services became operational.
- Plethora of services available that cater to corporate houses
- Group health insurance packages available
Medicana Avcilar
Istanbul, Turkey
Medicana Avcilar located in Istanbul, Turkey is accredited by ISO, JCI. Also listed below are some of the most prominent infrastructural details:
- Closed area of 6.331 m2
- Capacity of 63 beds
- 19 beds in general intensive care unit
- 12 beds in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)
- 1 bed capacity in Intensive Care Unit
- Pharmacies on duty
- Parking lot of 100 vehicles
- The Hospital has 31 standard rooms and 3 suite rooms
- All rooms are equipped with basic needs of patients and their relatives in a spacious room; minibar, television, internet, emergency ropes in restroom, nurse call button, etc. are included in our service
Bayindir Healthcare Group
Ankara, Turkey
Bayindir Healthcare Group located in Ankara, Turkey is accredited by ISO, JCI. Also listed below are some of the most prominent infrastructural details:
- Bayindir Healthcare Group comprises 3 hospitals, 6 Dental special clinics and 1 Medical Center.
- Sogutozu Hospital
- Icerenkoy Hospital
- Kavaklidere Hospital
- Levent Medical Center
- Fenerbahce Dental Clinic
- Besiktas Dental Clinic
- Icerenkoy Dental Clinic
- Is Tower Dental Clinic
- Sirinevler Dental Clinic
- Alsancak Dental Clinic
- The International Patient Center was set up in 2010. It is a resource for doctors and the available healthcare services, arranging for consultations and appointments. Also, it manages the travel, transfer, accommodation, visa and insurance resources and translation for international medical travellers.
- Networking with physicians from various countries to ensure knowledge and know how growth and implementation work towards the benefit of patients.
Medicana Sivas Hospital
Sivas, Turkey
Medicana Sivas Hospital located in Sivas, Turkey is accredited by ISO, JCI. Also listed below are some of the most prominent infrastructural details:
- 24/7 Emergency Department
- 28.000 m2 Closed Area
- Capacity of 219 beds
- 7 Operating rooms
- 49 intensive care beds
- 15 newborn intensive care beds
- 5 Cardiovascular intensive care beds
- 4 coronary intensive care beds
- 28 observation beds
- It has started to serve with a capacity of 15 beds in the newborn intensive care unit with the investment of physicians and devices it has made, recently
- Hospitality services include- Standard and Suite rooms, fully-equipped with TV, Air conditioning system at room level, hairdresser, dialysis services, cafeteria, Place of worship, etc.
- Car Parking with a capacity of 75 vehicles
- The hospital cafeteria provides both cafe and food service in the hospital
Clear Medi Hospital, Karkardooma
Delhi, India
Clear Medi Hospital, Karkardooma located in New Delhi, India is accredited by ISO. Also listed below are some of the most prominent infrastructural details:
- There are 12 Linear Accelerators in all hospitals of Clear Medi Hospital, Delhi, India and more in the development stage.
- Over 25 surgical and medical specialties across all Clear Medi Hospitals
- Care Medi is one of the biggest Oncology care organisations in India.
- Hospital management solutions provided to over 15 partner healthcare organisations managing more than 300 beds.
- The organisation consists of offerings such as clinical manpower management and equipment management.
- Advanced radiology and nuclear medicine centres
- Professionally managed international patient care
- Clear Medi Hospital, Delhi has a capacity of 100 beds.
- Clear Medi is a multispecialty hospital.
- It is a NABH (National Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare providers) certified hospital.
- It has Oncology and Cardiac departments with an Intensive Care Unit.
- It also has fully equipped Operation Theatres.
- Clear Medi Hospital ensures coordination with patients and International Patient assistance
- It has an online Tumor Board with a number of Medical, Surgical and Radiation Oncologists.
Bai Jerbai Wadia Hospital for Children
Mumbai, India
Bai Jerbai Wadia Hospital for Children located in Mumbai, India is accredited by AAAHC. Also listed below are some of the most prominent infrastructural details:
- There are two parts of the hospital, one is focused on women's care and the other is focused on child care.
- Bai Jerbai Wadia hospital for Children
- 300 bed capacity
- 60 Pediatricians
- 10,000 in-patients (annual)
- 100,000 outpatients (annual)
- Biggest Neonatal ICU (West zone)
- Nowrosjee Wadia Maternity Hospital
- Obstetrics and Gynecological disciplines (several)
- 20 specialists
- 305 bed capacity
- It is also a referral centre for women who are rehabilitating as well as their families.
Need Some Advice From Our Experts?
Request a Call Back Now!
Our team of healthcare experts would be happy to assist you
+99Process Involved for Hemispherectomy
- Preoperative: Evaluation using EEG, MRI, neuropsychological, and sometimes Wada tests; medication adjustments; education for family preparation.
- Intraoperative: Performed under general anaesthesia with either anatomical removal or functional disconnection techniques, guided by intraoperative monitoring (e.g., electrocorticography).
- Postoperative: ICU monitoring (2–3 days), wound and drain management, continuation of antiepileptic medications, and imaging to detect complications like bleeding or hydrocephalus.
- Rehabilitation: Early initiation of physical, occupational, and speech therapy, often starting within days with ongoing follow-up to regain motor skills, speech, and functional independence.
- Hemimegalencephaly: one side of the brain becomes abnormally large and causes frequent, hard-to-control seizures. Surgery disconnects or removes the affected half and usually stops the seizures.
- Extensive cortical dysplasia: developmental abnormalities in the brain’s cortex (like polymicrogyria) that cause severe, resistant epilepsy. Hemispherectomy disconnects the malfunctioning region.
- Perinatal stroke or encephalomalacia: damage from early-life stroke or brain injury often leads to persistent, localised seizures. Removing or isolating the damaged hemisphere effectively controls them.
- Rasmussen’s encephalitis is a rare, progressive condition characterised by a slow-growing inflammation that affects one side of the brain, resulting in seizures, weakness, and loss of function. Surgery halts the disease’s effects.
- Sturge–Weber syndrome: a congenital vascular brain disorder that causes drug-resistant seizures on one side; hemispherectomy can eliminate the seizure focus and preserve development.
- Hemiconvulsion–hemiplegia–epilepsy syndrome starts with prolonged convulsions on one side, leading to paralysis and ongoing seizures. Surgery is a key option when medications fail.
- Traumatic brain injury or porencephalic cyst: severe injury or resulting cysts in one hemisphere may lead to uncontrollable epilepsy; surgery disconnects the faulty tissue
- Preoperative assessment: Comprehensive evaluations (EEG, MRI, neuropsychological testing, sometimes Wada/MEG) determine seizure origins and assess whether the healthy hemisphere can support vital functions. Patients and families receive education about procedure expectations and medication adjustments.
- Craniotomy and exposure: Under general anaesthesia, a neurosurgeon makes a scalp incision and removes a portion of the skull to expose the diseased hemisphere.
- Hemisection or hemisphere removal
Based on specific needs, the surgeon either disconnects brain connections (functional hemispherectomy or hemispherotomy), including the corpus callosum and key white matter tracts, or removes large parts of the diseased hemisphere (anatomical hemispherectomy). - Hemostasis and cleaning: After disconnection or resection, the surgeon controls bleeding, irrigates the cavity with saline, and ensures any exposed brain tissue is cleaned and secured.
- Watertight dural repair, bone flap replacement, and layered scalp closure—all in one step: a finely sutured dura (often reinforced with graft), precise reattachment of the skull flap using screws or plates, and sequential closure of scalp layers (muscle, fascia, galea, skin) with a drain or dressing to reduce bleeding and swellin
- Immediate postoperative care: Patients usually spend 1–3 days in the ICU with close monitoring, followed by a hospital stay of around 5–7 days with neurological checks and early imaging to detect complications.
- Rehabilitation and recovery: Rehabilitation begins within days, with physical, occupational, and speech therapy to promote motor and cognitive recovery. Antiepileptic drugs are continued and tapered gradually. Long-term follow-up supports developmental progress and seizure monitoring.
- Hemispherotomy
- Callosotomy
- Hemidecortication
- Lesionectomy
- Lobectomy
- Resection
- High likelihood of stopping or significantly reducing seizures, with about 66–83 per cent of patients becoming seizure‑free.
- Prevents further brain damage by halting ongoing seizure activity.
- Enables the remaining hemisphere to reorganise functions like speech and movement, especially in young patients.
- Improves independence, mobility, daily function, and quality of life in most children.
- Stabilises or even enhances cognitive development, including language and memory, with many showing no decline over long-term follow-up.
False
- Please complete the form to provide us with relevant information about your condition.
- Consult with Our Healthcare Expert: One of our qualified specialists will contact you for a consultation.
- Receive a Detailed Treatment Plan: After examining your situation, we will provide you with a detailed treatment plan that includes expert opinions and a cost breakdown for various options.
- Select your preferred option: Choose the therapy option that best suits your needs.
- Seamless Organisation: We will manage all the details, including visas, flights, accommodations, and transfers, for a stress-free journey.
