Vagus Nerve Stimulation Treatment in Turkey
About Vagus Nerve Stimulation
Key Highlights
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Offers a treatment option for medication-resistant conditions like epilepsy and depression.Provides continuous, automatic therapy without requiring daily patient intervention.Is a reversible and adjustable procedure; stimulation settings can be fine-tuned non-invasively.Can lead to a significant reduction in seizure frequency and severity over time.May improve mood, alertness, and overall quality of life for eligible patients.
Who is this surgery for?
- Drug-resistant epilepsy (focal seizures) in patients who are not candidates for resective brain surgery.
- Treatment-resistant depression (TRD) that has not responded to multiple antidepressant therapies.
- As an adjunctive therapy for certain other conditions being researched, such as anxiety disorders or chronic migraine (in specific contexts).
How to prepare
- Comprehensive neurological evaluation, including video EEG monitoring and neuroimaging (MRI/CT).
- Detailed discussion with the neurologist and neurosurgeon about benefits, risks, and expectations.
- Pre-operative blood tests, ECG, and chest X-ray to assess general fitness for surgery.
- Adjustment or tapering of current medications as advised by the neurologist.
- Fasting for 8-12 hours prior to the surgery as per hospital protocol.
Risks & possible complications
- Surgical risks: Infection, bleeding, pain at incision sites, or scarring.
- Voice changes, hoarseness, throat pain, or coughing during stimulation.
- Shortness of breath or difficulty swallowing, typically temporary.
- Device-related issues like lead breakage, generator malfunction, or battery depletion requiring replacement.
- Rare risks include nerve injury, cardiac rhythm changes, or worsening of seizures or depression.
Recovery & hospital stay
- Hospital stay of 1-2 days for monitoring after implantation surgery.
- Incision sites on chest and neck need to be kept clean and dry for about a week.
- Avoid strenuous activities and heavy lifting for 2-3 weeks to allow proper healing.
- The device is typically activated 2-4 weeks post-surgery during a follow-up visit with the neurologist.
- Regular follow-ups are essential to program and optimize stimulation settings for maximum benefit.
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Typical hospital stay:
1-2 days
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Expected recovery time:
2-3 weeks
Frequently Asked Questions
If you are considering vagus nerve stimulation in Turkey, these questions and answers can help you make a confident, informed decision.
Popular choices for vagus nerve stimulation in Turkey include Liv Hospital Bahçeşehir, Istinye Üniversitesi Hastanesi Liv, Liv Hospital Ankara, known for experienced specialists and advanced surgical infrastructure.
Look at the doctor’s years of experience, hospital association, patient reviews, and how often they perform vagus nerve stimulation. MediFyr helps you compare neurologists and book consultations online.
The overall cost depends on hospital category, surgeon’s experience, room type, implant or device used (if any), length of stay, tests, and post-operative care. Our team can help you get cost estimates from multiple hospitals before you decide.
Procedure cost in other countries
Here is an overview of how the estimated cost, hospital stay, and recovery time for vagus nerve stimulation compare across other countries where we have data.
Top hospitals for Vagus Nerve Stimulation in Turkey
These partner hospitals in Turkey have dedicated neurology teams and experience managing patients undergoing vagus nerve stimulation.
Istanbul, Turkey
140 Doctors
Had my gallbladder out last week....
Had my gallbladder out last week. The surgery itself was fine, but the first two days after were rough. Dr. Madhumitha was really on top of my pain meds, adjusting them a few times until it was manageable. She checked on me every morning and evening at MGM, which helped a lot. I'm home now and the recovery is going okay, just taking it slow.