由 home-healthhaven 
Moyamoya disease is a rare, long-term condition that affects the blood vessels in the brain. The name “moyamoya” is Japanese for “puff of smoke”, which describes the hazy appearance of the new blood vessels that form as the disease progresses. In moyamoya disease, the large arteries in the brain become narrow, and to compensate, the smaller arteries expand and new vessels grow to maintain blood flow.
However, these new blood vessels are often too weak to provide the necessary blood supply and can burst, leading to serious bleeding. Because of this, surgery to restore proper blood flow—known as revascularization—is the most effective treatment.
So, who can get this surgery? Essentially, anyone diagnosed with moyamoya disease can undergo surgical treatment. Without appropriate therapy, patients may experience symptoms like headaches, drug-resistant seizures, blurred vision, difficulty focusing, numbness or muscle weakness in the limbs, uncontrolled movements, speech difficulties, and developmental delays in children. While medications can help with symptoms, they can’t reduce the high risk of brain hemorrhages and strokes that come with the disease. Interestingly, children usually respond better to the surgery than adults.
For planning the surgery, several imaging procedures are essential:
– **MRI and CT scans** provide detailed images of the brain’s tissues and skull.
– **Cerebral angiography** involves injecting a contrast dye into the bloodstream, making the vessels visible on X-rays.
– **Transcranial Doppler ultrasound** measures the blood flow in the brain.
– **PET and SPECT scans** assess brain activity.
– **Electroencephalography (EEG)** tracks the brain’s electrical activity.
Routine preoperative tests like blood and urine exams, and ECGs are also done.
There are two main types of revascularization surgeries:
– **Direct Revascularization**: This involves connecting a large scalp artery to the middle brain artery, improving blood flow immediately. It’s mostly performed on adults because working with the tiny vessels in children is more challenging.
– **Indirect Revascularization**: This is more suitable for children and young patients. It involves encouraging new arteries to grow into the brain tissue. They can develop from scalp arteries (a procedure called EDAS) or muscle arteries (EMS). Sometimes, both techniques are used together.
In severe cases, where a patient has a ruptured brain aneurysm or a stroke, emergency surgery might be needed.
When looking for the best places for moyamoya surgery, consider hospitals with the right diagnostic tools, high surgery success rates, and post-treatment rehab options. Notable hospitals include:
– University Hospital of Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Germany
– Charité University Hospital in Berlin, Germany
– Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Israel
– University Hospital for Neurosurgery, Salzburg, Austria
– University Hospital HM Monteprincipe in Madrid, Spain
If you cannot get quality treatment in your country, you might look into getting treatment abroad. A well-performed surgery can greatly reduce the risk of complications from moyamoya disease.
The cost of surgery varies widely depending on where you go, the hospital, the specific doctor, the patient’s age, and the type of procedure. Health insurance may cover some costs, but often patients pay out-of-pocket. For example, preoperative exams range from about €1,362 in India to €1,725 in Germany, and the surgery itself can cost about €13,900 in Turkey, €16,100 in South Korea, and €16,600 in Germany.
To avoid extra charges and complications with treatment abroad, consider using a medical tourism service like Booking Health. They help with hospital selection, manage all the details of your treatment, and even translate medical reports. You can reach out to them through their website, and a medical coordinator will get back to you promptly.