Awake Brain Tumor Surgery

Awake Brain Tumor Surgery

With changing and advancing technology, methods are being developed in the field of medicine that will facilitate human life and assist in many serious treatments. One of these methods is Awake Brain Tumor Surgery (Awake Craniotomy), in which the patient undergoes surgery while remaining conscious during brain surgery. In this article prepared for you, we will examine what awake brain tumor surgery is, in which diseases it is used, and how patients are prepared for this surgery.

What is Awake Brain Tumor Surgery?

Awake brain tumor surgery is a surgical procedure for removing brain tumors. This method is characterized by the patient remaining awake and conscious during the operation. During surgery, feedback from the patient is necessary to evaluate brain functions and prevent damage to healthy brain tissue surrounding the tumor. For this reason, patients remain awake during surgery and communicate with doctors. Awake craniotomy is a modern and advanced technique in the field of neurosurgery and plays an important role in the treatment of brain tumors.

In Which Diseases is Awake Brain Tumor Surgery Used?

Awake brain tumor surgery is generally used in the following situations:

• Removal of tumors located near the brain's speech, motor, and sensory centers,

• Cases where the tumor needs to be safely removed while preserving neurological functions,

• Treatment of brain tumors caused by epilepsy,

• Cases requiring reoperation in recurrent or progressive brain tumor cases,

How are Patients Prepared for Awake Brain Tumor Surgery?

The preparation process for awake brain tumor surgery varies depending on the patient's health status and the requirements of the surgery. In general, the preoperative preparation process includes the following steps:

• Evaluation of the patient's general health status and determination of whether the patient is suitable for surgery,

• Use of imaging methods such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to determine the location and size of the brain tumor,

• Sharing the risks and expectations of surgery with the patient and obtaining consent,

• Emphasizing the importance of communication between the patient and doctor during surgery,

• Providing psychological support to manage patient anxiety before surgery,

Awake brain tumor surgery is an important method in the treatment of brain tumors, and successful results are obtained when applied in appropriate patients. It is important to adopt a multidisciplinary approach to preserve patients' quality of life and support their recovery in the pre- and post-operative periods.

How is Awake Brain Tumor Surgery Performed?

Awake brain tumor surgery is a neurosurgical method performed while the patient remains conscious and able to communicate. This type of surgery is preferred especially when removing tumors located near language, motor, and sensory centers to ensure the preservation of brain functions. The stages of how awake brain tumor surgery is performed are as follows:

• Before the surgery, the patient's general health status is evaluated and necessary tests are performed. Additionally, the patient is provided with detailed information about the awake surgery process and is psychologically prepared.

• During the operation, appropriate anesthesia and sedation methods are applied to ensure the patient has a comfortable and pain-free experience. Generally, the patient is put under anesthesia at the beginning of the operation and is awakened after the scalp is opened.

• To preserve brain functions, the surgeon performs brain mapping to determine the functions of brain tissue surrounding the tumor. During this process, the patient's language, motor, and sensory centers are stimulated and their responses are observed.

• Based on the results of brain mapping, the surgeon begins removing the tumor while protecting the identified functional areas. During this process, continuous communication is maintained with the patient to monitor whether any loss of function occurs.

• After the tumor is successfully removed, the patient's condition is evaluated and the operation is completed. The patient's scalp is closed and the patient is awakened.

What Should Be Considered After Awake Brain Tumor Surgery?

There are several important points that patients should pay attention to following awake brain tumor surgery. These are as follows:

After surgery, patients need to remain in the hospital for a period of time and be under medical supervision. During the recovery period, it is important that the patient rests, takes prescribed medications, and pays attention to nutrition.

In the post-operative period, patients should avoid excessive physical activity and perform exercises recommended by their doctor. Additionally, patients are advised to sleep with their head elevated and avoid sudden head movements.

Since there is a risk of infection at the surgical site, it is important for patients to pay attention to hygiene rules and follow the cleaning and care procedures recommended by their doctor.

In the post-operative period, patients need to attend regular medical check-ups and undergo necessary tests. This way, possible complications can be detected early and treatment can be started.

Following awake brain tumor surgery, it is important that patients receive psychological support. Patients are advised to work with a psychologist or therapist who can understand their experience and help them.

Awake Brain Tumor Surgery Treatment Costs in Turkey

Turkey has made a name for itself in the world through its investments and work in the field of healthcare. In particular, the latest technological devices used in diagnostic and treatment procedures have brought hope for many diseases. Along with this, there has been an increase in health tourism to Turkey.

• The fact that hospitals are large, clean, spacious, and fully equipped with technological devices,

• Turkish doctors being specialists, successful, and talented in their field,

• Nurses and caregivers being friendly and compassionate,

• Questions being answered quickly and accurately,

• All personnel involved in patient care, including the intermediary company, being patient and understanding,

• Turkey offering holiday opportunities with its natural and historical beauty,

• Ease of transportation,

• The ability to meet needs such as diagnosis, treatment, accommodation, food, beverages, clothing, and vacation at reasonable prices,

are listed among the reasons for preference. We can see that patients and patient relatives who wish to come to Turkey are researching information about Awake Brain Tumor Surgery Treatment Costs in Turkey. However, at this stage, it would not be appropriate to provide a definite price quote. Many factors such as the type of disease, stage, diagnostic process, treatment process, and length of stay in Turkey affect pricing. If you would like to obtain more detailed pricing information, you can contact us. Additionally, if you come to Turkey for treatment through our intermediary services, we can facilitate your visa application process with an invitation letter that we send to the consulate.