Epilepsy treatment in Turkey

Epilepsy treatment in Turkey is a full range of the most modern medical services: thorough diagnostics, conservative and surgical treatment, and rehabilitation of all types of epilepsy.

Turkey is known not only for its well-developed resorts but also for its high level of medical care. This is confirmed by the presence of more than 40 clinics in the country that have received the prestigious JCI accreditation.

Turkish medical centers offer comprehensive treatment for patients suffering from various forms of epilepsy, including the rarest and most severe cases. A whole team of highly qualified specialists works with patients of different ages, both children and adults.

Therapy of epileptic seizures is carried out by an interdisciplinary team of specialists – epileptologists, neuropathologists, neurosurgeons, psychologists, and other doctors of the highest category.

Despite the fact that epilepsy is an incurable pathological process, Turkish doctors manage to achieve a complete cessation of seizures in 80% of patients. The remaining 20% are severe patients who manage to reduce the frequency and intensity of seizures, as well as fully control the further course of the epileptic syndrome.

Turkey is a popular destination for medical tourism due to the high level of medical services and the affordable cost of treatment. The most modern methods of diagnostics and treatment, as well as advanced technologies and the latest-generation equipment, are used in Turkish clinics.

According to reviews, foreign patients appreciate the hospitality and care they receive during their treatment in Turkey. Medical institutions provide comfortable conditions of stay and an individual approach to each patient.

Treatment of epilepsy in Turkey has a number of advantages, among which are:

1. Doctors of the highest category: the country has one of the most developed healthcare systems in the world. Turkish neurologists and epileptologists use advanced treatment methods in their practice and provide assistance to patients with epileptic seizures of any severity.
2. Modern equipment: with the help of advanced technologies, specialists diagnose epilepsy with 100% accuracy, determining the cause and localization of the pathological focus in the brain structures.
3. Innovative methods of treatment: Turkish medical centers have a strong research and development base, which allows the development and implementation of new treatments for epilepsy.
4. Transparent pricing policy and affordable cost of treatment. Prices for diagnostics and various procedures are significantly lower than in the US or Europe. At the same time, the quality of medical services remains at a high level.
5. Possibility to combine treatment and rest. This allows patients to improve their psycho-emotional state and cope with stress.

The modern equipment of Turkish clinics allows for a wide range of diagnostic tests, which with 100% accuracy can determine the type of epilepsy and its impact on the patient’s quality of life. This helps doctors understand the needs of patients and choose the most effective treatment strategy. Also, neuropsychologists can assess the mental functions of patients and study how epilepsy affects their thinking abilities.

During the diagnosis, Turkish epileptologists will conduct a series of tests to analyze brain activity, which will identify the area of ​​the brain responsible for the occurrence of epileptic seizures.

The most informative instrumental tests include:

• electroencephalography (EEG) in the state of wakefulness and sleep;
• magnetic resonance imaging (MRI);
• computed tomography (CT);
• positron emission tomography (PET);
• method of magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS);
• single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT).

To more accurately determine the focus of the epiactivity in the brain, more complex diagnostic tests are used in Turkish clinics. Some of the most relevant and requested minimally invasive procedures include:

• WADA testing (determining the dominance of the hemispheres in critical functions such as speech and thinking);
• intraoperative EEG (a more detailed study of the electrical activity of the brain).

Invasive brain activity monitoring allows specialists to determine the need for surgery and prepare for the procedure.

These and other methods help to achieve maximum effectiveness in the treatment of epilepsy.

The treatment of epilepsy in Turkey depends on the form of the disease, the underlying cause, and the age of the patient. Depending on the type and frequency of seizures, Turkish doctors use modern drugs that help normalize brain activity.

In 70% of patients with epilepsy, the use of conservative therapy allows the disease to be fully controlled. After treatment, seizures stop, quality of life improves, and medication is minimized (or stopped completely) (in remission).

A qualified neurologist selects antiepileptic drugs in such a way as to obtain a clinically effective dose, not impair the patient’s quality of life, and eliminate side effects.

The composition of the complex therapy of epilepsy in Turkey may include special nutrition. The ketogenic diet is a diet that can be used to treat some forms of epilepsy. It is based on high fat intake and low carbohydrate intake. This leads to a state called ketosis when the body begins to use fats as its main source of energy instead of carbohydrates.

The ketogenic diet may help control seizures in some patients who cannot achieve satisfactory control with medical therapy. The mechanism behind this is not fully understood, but it is thought that ketosis may alter the levels of certain chemicals in the brain, which may reduce neuronal excitability and prevent epileptic seizures.

The ketogenic diet may be effective in controlling seizures in children and adults with various forms of epilepsy.

Turkey is one of the leading countries in the field of epilepsy treatment. Therefore, Turkish doctors actively use innovative methods of therapy to combat this disease.

Stereotactic radiosurgery

When conservative anticonvulsant therapy and diet do not give the expected result, surgical treatment is usually performed. In Turkey, medical centers offer a more modern alternative to brain surgery – the destruction of epileptogenic foci with high-dose ionizing radiation. This procedure is completely non-invasive and effective. Already after 1-2 sessions of stereotactic radiosurgery, pathologically altered cells are completely destroyed, and this leads to the cessation of seizures.

In Turkish clinics, epilepsy is treated using the latest methods of stereotactic radiosurgery – the Gamma Knife.

Vagus Nerve Electrical Stimulation (VNS Therapy)

A new method of treating epileptic disorders involves the implantation of a special device that, working through the vagus nerve, sends electrical impulses to the patient’s brain, which can reduce the frequency and intensity of seizures. This helps patients reduce their medication doses and better control their condition. The device comes with a magnet, which, approaching the pacemaker, allows the device to quickly generate more powerful impulses and restrain pathological brain activity.

Surgery

The operation for resection of the pathological focus is carried out mainly in cases of drug-resistant forms of epilepsy. If medical treatment fails, doctors recommend surgery to eliminate the pathological focus that causes seizures.

Turkish neurosurgeons prefer minimally invasive surgical treatment, which allows patients to avoid risks and recover faster.

These methods consist of the fact that a beam of radiation is directed to a specific focus, which is responsible for the pathological electrical activity in the brain. Treatment allows for minimizing the impact on healthy brain tissue and directing the dose to the pathological focus as much as possible.

Patients who have undergone brain surgery usually do not require long-term rehabilitation. Modern methods of neurosurgery and mapping make it possible to achieve high efficiency in the intervention and minimize possible complications.

After the operation, patients usually stay in the hospital for 3-4 days under round-the-clock supervision of medical personnel. These days, the necessary examinations are carried out to check the effectiveness of the procedure and the absence of complications. Most patients return to school or work within 1-3 months.

Using modern techniques, Turkish clinics achieve complete recovery in approximately 70% of adults and 80% of children.

In most cases, there are enough well-chosen medications.

The main criterion for why medical tourists choose Turkish clinics is the price-quality ratio. The cost of epilepsy treatment in Turkey is an order of magnitude cheaper compared to the United States, Switzerland, Spain, and other countries. At the same time, quality medical care is provided in Turkey.

Foreign tourists choose epilepsy treatment in Turkey for the following reasons:

• active use of robotic technology to perform surgical interventions of varying degrees of complexity;
• the latest diagnostic and surgical equipment of the latest generation;
• advanced minimally invasive methods of surgery are applied;
• the low percentage of postoperative complications;
• neurosurgeons with extensive practical experience who are trained at the best universities in the world.

Many patients who have undergone epilepsy treatment in Turkey note the high quality of medical care and the effectiveness of the therapy. Turkey has a well-developed medical infrastructure, with clinics specializing in the treatment of epilepsy and other neurological diseases.

According to reviews, the price of medical services for the treatment of epilepsy in Turkey is more attractive than in other countries with developed medicine.

The cost of epilepsy treatment in Turkey may depend on several factors, such as the chosen treatment method, the severity of the disease, the length of hospital stay, and many others. The price may vary depending on the specific medical institution.

Thus, the average cost of treatment varies in the range of $ 2000 – 2700. If there is a need to do an MRI, the average price is $ 700. It should be noted that in the US or the UK, the cost of this procedure starts from $ 2000-3000 and more.

If we talk about the cost of medical services in general, then the price of epilepsy treatment in Turkey will be 3-4 times lower compared to other developed countries. For example, compared to Germany or Switzerland, you can save up to 45%.

Experts Medical specializes in medical tourism and provides services for selecting the best clinics for the treatment of epilepsy in Turkey at affordable prices. The company’s managers are also ready to help clients navigate the cost of procedures.

To organize a medical trip, you need to fill out an application on the website in order to contact company representatives. Next, you will receive a list of the best neurological clinics and specialists from the doctor-coordinator.

After selecting the most suitable epilepsy clinic in Turkey for you, Experts Medical will organize your trip. They will book a hotel for you and arrange transfers and other medical services.