Dubbed as India’s Silicon Valley, the city of Bangalore stands out because of the bustling IT industry. The health sector doesn’t fall far behind. You will find the best neurosurgery hospital in Bangalore, at par with global standards.
In the past, health hubs like Mumbai and Chennai outranked Bangalore, but the technological advancements over the last 20 years might finally bring it to the spotlight. Campaigns on medical tourism are doing wonders for India as it attracts Western patients for neurosurgery.
What is Neurosurgery?
Neurosurgery focuses on the surgical treatment and diagnosis of the central and peripheral nervous system. Most people think the surgery only involves the brain, but this is false. Neurosurgeons are physicians that perform surgeries as non-invasive as possible.
Types of Neurosurgery
- Craniotomy
In this procedure, neurosurgeons remove a fragment from the skull. Once they have access inside the brain, they can now manage blood clots, brain tumors, aneurysms, infections, inflammation, or brain injuries caused by stroke.
After the procedure, the removed piece returns to the precise location where it was removed. Doing so will help protect the exposed area again.
Initially, doctors will need an image of your brain to serve as a map for the operation. Imaging techniques like magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or scanning methods like computerized tomography (CT) help pinpoint the injury. If the craniotomy involved two methods, the procedure is called a stereotactic craniotomy.
- Neuroendoscopy
This technique uses an endoscope, a small tube with a camera at the end. The device can pass through small incisions within or around the skull, besides the obvious entrance from the nose or mouth.
Neuroendoscopy especially helps with concerns in the spine because of the underwhelming thickness. As opposed to craniotomy, taking this procedure results in a shorter recovery period and less pain in general.
- Ventricular Shunt
Commonly used to relieve patients suffering from hydrocephalus, this procedure eases fluid and pressure build-up in the brain. Neurosurgeons place the shunt, a medical device, to release pressure in the brain. The fluids will drain from catheters, consisting of two tubes and a valve.
With inflow catheters, the fluid drains from a small hole in the skull, whereas with outflow catheters, the tube directs the fluid to a drainage site anywhere on the body.
Hydrocephalus patients benefit the most from this procedure because the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) collects abnormally in the brain cavities. In normal bodies, the CSF delivers nutrients to blood vessels.
For patients with hydrocephalus, the process spirals out of control. Brain damage, if left untreated, could progressively get worse and lead to death.
- Thrombectomy
A thrombus is a blood clot, causing arterial blockage and disruptions in the rhythm of the heart. Without opening the skull, the surgeon inserts catheters through a wide blood vessel at the groin and guides the thin wire with dye.
This way, the doctor can identify which blood vessel is the problem’s source. This is applicable for patients with blood clots in the brain or aneurysms that cause bulging and bleeding in the arterial walls.
Some patients who are suffering from brain cancer may be treated with a process called stereotactic radiosurgery. This includes the use of the Gamma Knife, which may raise eyebrows for some people.
The “knife” in this setting is not an actual knife but a device used to emit the radiation waves needed to deal with the ailment. By doing this process, the doctor can get rid of the tumors and other lesions without damaging the tissues surrounding the brain.
- Cerebral Aneurysm Repair
First, an anesthetic will put you to sleep. Then the surgeon will cut open a flap of bone, either from your scalp or just above the eyebrow. Once the surgeon has access to your brain, the doctor will spot the aneurysm, using a metal clip to seal them and clamp it shut.
The bone flap, removed earlier, will go back to place, and the surgeon will stitch the scalp. The blood vessel linings will heal over time, and the aneurysm is more or less stable, without apparent ruptures in the future.
Typically, the surgeon only clips the aneurysm itself. If the aneurysm happens to be problematic then the whole artery needs a seal, so in rare cases like these, a bypass will be necessary. This procedure diverts the blood flow around the area of the aneurysm and away from it.
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Bangalore, or Bengaluru as locals fondly call it, is now second to Delhi as a favorite destination of the medical tourist. Upon closer inspection, the best neurosurgery hospital in Bangalore will agree. As Karnataka improves called-for policies, the health sector will see unprecedented growth in the field of neurosurgery.
