SJD Barcelona Children’s Hospital
Dr. Conesa specializes in Moyamoya disease as part of his vascular neurosurgery expertise at the Teknon Medical Centre.
Dr. Nnamdi Elenwoke is a neurosurgeon at Neuroinstitut – Centro Médico Teknon (Barcelona), a leading center in Europe. He specializes in minimally invasive and functional neurosurgery. He has focused expertise in Arnold–Chiari malformation and craniovertebral junction disorders. His practice uses advanced microsurgical techniques, endoscopic skull base surgery, and robotic-assisted neurosurgery.
Education and training: MD (2007). Neurosurgery residency (MIR) at Hospital Miguel Servet, Zaragoza. Advanced endoscopic skull base training at Emory University, Atlanta. Clinical training at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, London. He has over 15 years of experience in complex brain and spine surgery.
Key competencies: posterior fossa decompression; brain and spinal tumors; minimally invasive spine surgery; hydrocephalus and syringomyelia. He uses advanced imaging and neuronavigation to improve safety and protect function. Accreditations: Spanish Society of Neurosurgery, EANS, and the Official College of Physicians of Barcelona. He has published scientific work and is active in international congresses.
Moyamoya disease is not curable but is highly treatable. It is a progressive vascular disorder causing lifelong narrowing of brain arteries. Specialized revascularization surgery can bypass these blockages. This treatment typically stops neurological damage and reduces stroke risk for both children and adults.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Spanish centers show a high specialization split between pediatric and adult care. SJD Barcelona Children’s Hospital has treated Moyamoya since 1997. Meanwhile, Hospital Ruber Internacional serves 25,000 patients annually using 3-Tesla MRI for precise vascular mapping. Choosing a center matching the patient's age is vital for surgical success.
Patient Consensus: Patients note that while the abnormal vessel pattern remains on scans, the surgery is often life-changing. They emphasize focusing on stroke prevention rather than expecting the disease to disappear completely.
Specialized centers in Spain provide surgical revascularization as the primary treatment for Moyamoya disease. Surgeons perform direct STA-MCA bypass, indirect synangiosis, or combined techniques. These procedures restore blood flow to the brain using the external carotid artery system to prevent future strokes.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Spain ranks 4th globally in healthcare preferences on Bookimed, partly due to the high specialization of its neurosurgeons. Senior doctors like Dr. Gerardo Conesa Bertran at Centro Médico Teknon integrate computer platforms in augmented reality for delicate brain surgeries. This advanced mapping is crucial for Moyamoya as it allows surgeons to navigate highly functional brain zones with maximum safety.
Patient Consensus: Parents of pediatric patients note that Spanish clinics are a vital alternative when local options fail. They often find that treatment costs in Spain are approximately 2 to 3 times lower than in Switzerland or Japan.
Spanish neurosurgeons utilize direct extracranial-intracranial bypass, indirect revascularization, and combined techniques for Moyamoya disease. The Superficial Temporal Artery to Middle Secondary Artery bypass remains the primary direct method. Centers like SJD Barcelona Children's Hospital routinely perform these complex microsurgeries for pediatric patients.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Spain has emerged as a top neurosurgery destination, serving hundreds of international requests annually. Data shows major centers like Centro Médico Teknon and Hospital Ruber Internacional combine intensive surgical volume with high-end diagnostics like 3-Tesla MRI. While Turkey and Germany lead in total requests, Spain holds a high global rank due to specialized pediatric centers like SJD Barcelona, which has performed these specific vascular operations since 1997. Choosing a high-volume Spanish center is vital because they maintain specialized intensive care units designed for complex post-operative recovery.
Patient Consensus: Parents note that Spanish pediatric hospitals offer specialized expertise for rare conditions that many other European centers decline to treat. Families emphasize that choosing a facility with a proven track record since the late 1990s ensures the highest level of surgical experience.
Spain features top-tier Moyamoya treatment centers in Barcelona and Madrid. These specialized facilities provide complex cerebral revascularization for adult and pediatric patients. JCI-accredited institutions like Centro Médico Teknon and Hospital Ruber Internacional utilize advanced neuroimaging and augmented reality mapping for high-precision bypass surgeries.
Bookimed Expert Insight: While many search for general neurosurgery, the most successful outcomes in Spain are found at centers with high surgical volumes. For instance, Centro Médico Teknon and Hospital Ruber Internacional handle over 30,000 operations combined annually. This massive volume ensures neurosurgeons maintain the high manual dexterity required for microscopic vessel suturing in Moyamoya bypass.
Patient Consensus: Parents emphasize that Spanish centers offer a level of experience in pediatric brain vessel surgery that is difficult to find elsewhere. They often note that the presence of native language translators makes navigating complex recovery much easier for international families.
Spain's leading neurosurgeons for Moyamoya revascularization include Dr. Gerardo Conesa Bertran and Dr. Bartolomé Oliver at Centro Médico Teknon. Dr. Fuat Arikan and Dr. Dario F. Gándara are also recognized specialists. These experts operate in JCI-accredited facilities in Barcelona and Madrid.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Patient data shows a clear specialization split between Barcelona and Madrid. Barcelona centers like Teknon and SJD attract the highest volume of international Moyamoya cases. SJD Barcelona Children's Hospital handles 450,000 patients annually and is ranked top three in Europe. Choosing these high-volume hubs ensures access to specialized pediatric reanimation units opened as recently as 2018.
Patient Consensus: Patients note that Moyamoya is rare, so finding surgeons with specific experience since 1997 is vital. They appreciate clinics that provide translators and coordinate local accommodation, making the complex surgical journey feel like being at home.
Recovery after Moyamoya bypass surgery in Spain requires 3 to 5 days of hospitalization for neurological monitoring. Patients typically return to daily activities within 6 weeks. Long-term follow-up includes lifelong imaging and antiplatelet therapy to maintain graft patency and prevent vascular complications.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Spain is a leading destination for complex vascular neurosurgery because centers like Sant Joan de Déu have specialized in Moyamoya since 1997. Data shows that Spanish pediatric facilities offer significant value. Treatment for this rare condition can cost 2 to 3 times less in Barcelona than in Switzerland or Japan despite identical success standards.
Patient Consensus: Parents note that experienced surgeons and high-end intensive care units are vital for a smooth recovery in children. They find the presence of local translators and staff fluent in English makes managing post-operative care much easier.