Electrical Cortical Stimulation Cost in Bangalore, India

Electrical cortical stimulation uses electrodes placed on or in the brain to map which areas control important functions, usually during assessment for epilepsy surgery.

Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) explains that invasive EEG is used when earlier tests have not pinpointed where seizures start, or when that area may control an important function. Cortical stimulation tests whether areas planned for removal are essential.

Epilepsy Action notes that invasive EEG is used rarely, as most mapping is done with fMRI and other scans.

GOSH describes grids or strips placed through an opening in the skull, or depth electrodes through small holes, with monitoring for up to seven days and a total stay of about 11 to 12 days.

It reports an infection risk of 10 to 15% because wires leave through the skin, and in about 20% the seizure origin still cannot be found.

Flying home: the UK Civil Aviation Authority's guidance for doctors gives about 7 days after neurosurgery as a minimum, and the neurosurgeon may ask you to wait longer depending on the operation.

The cost of electrical cortical stimulation in Bangalore typically ranges from $570 to $5,450 USD (about ₹54,100 to ₹5.17 lakh), depending on the hospital, room category and type of procedure.

What you pay depends mainly on your own case. If the operation is planned and you need only a short stay in neuro intensive care, your bill is likely to be closer to $570 (about ₹54,100). It is likely to be nearer $5,450 (about ₹5.17 lakh) if the surgery is more complex, special navigation or monitoring equipment or an implanted device is used, or you need longer in intensive care.

When comparing Bangalore packages for electrical cortical stimulation, check whether each quote includes:

• Surgeon and anaesthetist fees
• Operating theatre or procedure room
• Neuro-intensive care days
• Implants or devices used
• Hospital stay and room category
• Medicines and consumables
• Follow-up visits before you fly home

Bangalore hospitals usually put together an estimate for electrical cortical stimulation from these elements:

• Pre-operative imaging: MRI, CT or angiography.
• Theatre and navigation equipment: including neuro-monitoring where used.
• Neuro-intensive care: days in a neuro ICU after surgery.
• Type of electrodes: grids, strips or depth.
• Monitoring period: up to about a week.
• Hospital stay: often 11 to 12 days.
• Further surgery: if a seizure area is found.

Brain and spine surgery costs depend on the complexity, intensive care stay and any devices, so complex cases can cost more than the range above.

Neurosurgery in Bengaluru is offered at multi-speciality hospitals with neuro-intensive care, neuro-imaging and neuro-monitoring, so ask which of these will be used for your operation.

Accreditation by the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare Providers (NABH), part of the Quality Council of India, is India's main hospital quality standard, and the NABH website shows whether a Bangalore hospital's accreditation is current.

Some Bengaluru hospitals also hold Joint Commission International (JCI) accreditation, an international standard, and JCI's public directory lets you confirm a hospital's status before you book.

If the hospital has an international patient desk, ask it about the hospital letter for your e-Medical visa, airport transfers, interpreters and accommodation close to the hospital.