NEUROLOGY

Memory services provide assessment and diagnosis of dementia and provide ongoing support and information to people with memory problems and their carers. Memory services are specialist services for people of any age who may be experiencing memory difficulties, which includes early onset dementia.
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At Kauvery, we have a highly specialized Hyper Acute Stroke Center (HASU) that diagnoses and delivers individualized treatment quickly. This timely intervention can have a dramatic impact on the outcome. Stroke services are available 24/7.

The stroke care team comprises of neurologists, emergency physicians, radiologists, interventional radiologists, neuro-surgeons and neuro-intensivists and this team provides prompt treatment to minimize brain damage and potential complications.

Rehabilitation and secondary prevention are two important pillars of stroke care and we at Kauvery address this with tailor made rehabilitation programs for patients, both in the hospital and after discharge.

Rehabilitation comprises of physiotherapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy, psychological support etc.

At Kauvery Hospital, we also offer Botox treatment for post-stroke spasticity or stiffness that helps patients recover from this disability and improves quality of life.

Epilepsy is a brain disorder where the patient gets recurrent seizures or fits due to unstable or hypersensitive neurons that fire causing involuntary movements and sensations.

Evaluation and management of patients with epilepsy includes initial consultation, evaluation with EEG, imaging and treatment with appropriate anti-epileptic medications. We have a very good neurophysiology department with video-EEG services. We manage and treat refractory epilepsies and undertake neuro-surgical evaluation of patients with intractable epilepsy.

Advice on marriage, pregnancy and genetic counseling for patients with epilepsy is also provided.

Parkinson's disease is a very common neurological condition that may affect people above the age of 50. Patients will notice slowing of movements, stiffness or rigidity, tremors or shaking and imbalance on walking.

At Kauvery, we have a specialized Parkinson's clinic where we undertake consultations, treatment, rehabilitation and lifestyle advice. Deep brain stimulation - an advanced treatment modality will soon be initiated.

Dementia is not a specific disease. It's an overall term that describes a wide range of symptoms associated with a decline in memory or other thinking skills severe enough to reduce a person's ability to perform everyday activities. Alzheimer's disease accounts for 60 to 80 percent of patients with Dementia. Vascular dementia, which occurs after a stroke or small vessel disease, is the second most common.

There is an exclusive Dementia clinic every wednesday at Kauvery hospital. Dementia is a life changing condition for the patient as well as the family and so we address the physical and emotional requirements of the patients and their families as part of the managing process.

We run a support group for patients and care takers dealing with Dementia and we meet regularly to share the experiences and learn. There are special workshops conducted at regular intervals.

Headaches and vertigo or dizziness are two very common neurological problems. These specialized clinics focus on diagnosis, treatment and advice on lifestyle modifications that are so essential during management of these problems. Neurologists and ENT doctors work together to treat vertigo that can be due to central (brain) and peripheral (ear) causes.

Sleep related problems include both breathing issues such as Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and sleep pattern problems. In Kauvery, we have a fully equipped sleep lab where we are able to evaluate patients with various sleep disorders and manage them accordingly.

OSA is a very common but under recognized problem which now has been recognized as an independent risk factor for strokes and heart attacks. So it is important to identify and treat this condition as early as possible.

Acquired conditions can be treated and cured but genetic disease requires long-term supportive therapy including regular physiotherapy and occupational therapy. We have a fully equipped neurophysiology lab where we can undertake specialized tests such as electromyography (EMG), repetitive nerve stimulation studies, Single fibre EMG and quantitative EMG for various neuromuscular conditions.

Genetic testing and counselling are also offered where required.

Clinical Neurophysiology is an allied specialty that involves diagnosing of a wide range of conditions affecting the central and peripheral nervous systems. It is concerned with the testing of the electrical function of the brain, spinal cord and nerves in the limbs and muscles.

Neurophysiology tests are useful in patient management in the field of Neurology, Neurosurgery, Orthopaedics, Paediatrics, Rheumatology, Plastic Surgery and ICU.

The common tests performed in Neurophysiology lab include:

• EEG (Adults and Children) - Recording of brain activity using multiple electrodes placed on the scalp. This is used in classifying and diagnosing epilepsy, brain dysfunction etc.
• Nerve conduction studies - assesses the function of peripheral nerves.
• Electromyography - Useful for diagnosing muscle, nerve and nerve cell related problems.

Special Tests:

• Video telemetry - This specialized study is essential for epilepsy workup. The need for complete evaluation of interictal and ictal EEG abnormalities and matching with clinical semiology and the focal lesion is absolutely essential for the success of the epilepsy surgery.
• Evoked essentials - It is used to test central pathways. eg : Multiple sclerosis.
• Repetitive stimulation studies and single fibre EMG - Essential for diagnosis of Myasthenia Gravis - a neuromuscular junction transmission dysfunction.
• Electrocorticography (ECOG) - Electrophysiological monitoring that uses electrodes placed directly on the exposed surface of the brain to record electrical activity from the cerebral cortex during epilepsy surgeries. It is used for identification of lesions and effective resection.

We have a highly specialized ICU managed by intensive care specialists who are in position round the clock and have the expertise to take care of emergencies such as acute trauma, neuro-surgical patients, stroke, seizures, Guillian Barre syndrome, Myasthenic crisis, etc.

A unique multidisciplinary approach is employed to diagnose and treat tumors of the brain, spinal cord and the peripheral nerves. State of the art care and up-to- date treatment modalities are delivered by a team with extensive experience in managing cancers of the central and peripheral nervous systems. The team includes neurosurgeons, radiation and medical oncologists, neuroradiologists, neuropathologists, pain management specialists and psychologists.