MONDAY
Arrival & pre-treatment assessment
Arrive in Barcelona and attend your preoperative brain MRI with sedation and skull CT scan. These scans help the medical team confirm your suitability for HIFU.
01 / Your stay
A typical treatment week
TUESDAY · APPROX. 3:00 PM
HIFU treatment
The procedure takes approximately 3 hours. You will be awake inside the MRI scanner, supported by two neurosurgeons, a neurologist and an anesthesiologist.
Explore the procedure step by step
After treatment, a pre-arranged ambulance will take you to Hospital Clínic de Barcelona for overnight observation.
WEDNESDAY · APPROX. 10:00 AM
Assessment & hospital discharge
Following a medical assessment, you may be discharged if your recovery is progressing as expected.
THURSDAY–FRIDAY
Recovery in Barcelona
Remain in Barcelona for recovery and observation, following your medical team's advice.
SATURDAY
Return home
Plan to travel home on Saturday. A Friday afternoon departure may be possible if your recovery is favourable and your medical team confirms you are ready to travel.
This is a typical itinerary. Times and travel plans may be adjusted according to your assessment and recovery.
04 / After you return home
Stay connected with your team
Your treatment includes remote follow-up at the following intervals after the procedure:
1 week
3 weeks
1 month
3 months
The procedure / Step by step
What happens on treatment day?
From your arrival at the centre to your first hours of recovery, here is what you can typically expect during your MRI-guided focused ultrasound treatment.
STEP 01
Arrival & welcome
Please arrive at the treatment centre at your appointment time. Your surgical team will welcome you and accompany you to the preparation room next to the MRI suite.
STEP 02
Preparation & comfort
The neuroanesthesiologist will place a small intravenous line in your arm or hand and give you medication to help you feel more comfortable. Your scalp will be shaved again before the positioning frame is fitted.
STEP 03
Fitting the stereotactic frame
A stereotactic frame helps keep your head securely in position during treatment. Local anaesthetic is injected at four small points before the frame is fixed to your skull. This step is usually well tolerated, although you may feel brief discomfort from the injections.
STEP 04
Initial assessment & positioning
The surgical team and a neurologist specialising in movement disorders will assess your symptoms. You will then move into the MRI suite, where your head is positioned within the ultrasound treatment helmet. You remain awake during treatment.
STEP 05
MRI planning & test sonications
An initial MRI scan helps the team identify the treatment target. The first low-energy ultrasound applications, called sonications, are intended to test your response without creating a permanent lesion. The team checks for improvement in your symptoms and any unwanted effects before proceeding.
STEP 06
Treatment & repeated checks
Once the target has been assessed, the team gradually increases the ultrasound energy to create a small, precisely targeted treatment lesion. Further applications may be made within and around the selected target to optimise symptom control, with repeated assessments of your response.
STEP 07
Final checks
When the team considers symptom control satisfactory, treatment is completed. The stereotactic frame is removed and a final MRI scan is performed to assess the treated area and check for immediate complications.
STEP 08
Transfer & overnight observation
You will be prepared for your pre-arranged ambulance transfer to Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, where you will remain under observation overnight.
STEP 09
Eating, walking & discharge
You may be able to eat and walk independently within a few hours, depending on your recovery and the medical team’s assessment. During the following 6–24 hours, the team will reassess your symptoms, check for early complications and determine when you are ready for discharge. You will remain in close contact with the surgical and medical team until your final return home.
Your team will guide you throughout. The sequence and timing may be adapted to your needs and your response to treatment.
05 / Contact & appointments
Arrange your appointment
To request an appointment or ask about your HIFU treatment in Barcelona, contact us through either website or email our team.
contacto@brainandspine-bcn.com