BEST PROVIDERS OF SPECIALIST CARE
STROKE CENTRE OF THE YEAR IN THE ASIA-PACIFIC
MOUNT ELIZABETH HOSPITAL
Strokes are medical emergencies that require immediate care to avoid potentially devastating health risks or even death , and Mount Elizabeth Hospital ( MEH ) has what it takes to ensure stroke patients receive the best possible care .
“ At Mount Elizabeth Hospital , we have an extensive clinical history in treating strokes . With over 20 neurologists and neurosurgeons experienced in modern medical and surgical techniques , we have the capabilities to manage and treat any type of acute strokes ,” Dr Noel Yeo , Senior Vice- President , Parkway Hospitals Singapore , told Global Health Asia-Pacific . “ Our neurosurgeons are well-trained in emergency procedures such as endovascular clipping , embolisation , and stereotactic radiosurgery .”
The quick provision of these procedures can save lives or spare patients from a lifetime of disability . During a stroke , blood supply to certain parts of the brain is reduced or cut , leading brain cells to die in a matter of minutes . If the problem is not treated in time , people can suffer a spate of complications including paralysis or loss of control in certain muscles , difficulty talking or swallowing , memory loss , and thinking difficulties .
State-of-the-art technology available at MEH can help patients reduce the risk of having a stroke . The hospital houses the only Gamma Knife Centre in Singapore , where Gamma Knife radiosurgery is used to treat arteriovenous malformations ( AVM ), an abnormal collection of blood vessels
Dr Ravi Shrestha and Jeffrey Law
that might cause a stroke . The procedure destroys AVMs by using powerful and accurate radiation beams , sparing patients the need of going under the knife as well as the potential complications associated with surgery , such as infection and bleeding . Carried out under local anaesthesia and lasting for no more than one hour , it also translates into shorter hospital stays and faster recoveries .
Advanced equipment is also available to treat patients who ’ ve already had a stroke . A minimally invasive surgery performed with the BrainPath technology allows MEH neurosurgeons to access the brain with a small tube and navigate through it with a computerised system that offers greater clarity for eliminating deep intracerebral haemorrhages ( brain bleed or the deadliest form of stroke ). “ Our neurosurgeons are among the pioneers to be trained in the Asia-
Pacific using the BrainPath integrated surgical approach ,” said Dr Yeo .
For stroke patients who experience complications due to brain lesions , MEH provides rehabilitation services to get them back on their feet . “ Our neuro-rehabilitation team understands the debilitating effects of neurological conditions and are committed to helping patients attain near normal function after neurological impairment ,” he said .
A multidisciplinary approach can help some stroke patients regain their lost functions .
This includes exercises to improve muscle strength and coordination , mobility and gait training that involves learning how to move with assistive aids such as walkers , the use of a treadmill to improve the patient ’ s walking ability , functional electrical stimulation ( FES ) to stimulate weakened or partially paralysed muscles and facilitate muscle contraction and reeducation , and caregiver training to ensure a smooth and safe transition when patients move back home from the hospital , like teaching caregivers how to help patients use walking aids .
“ At Mount Elizabeth Hospital , we have an extensive clinical history in treating strokes .”
90 DECEMBER 2020 GlobalHealthAsiaPacific . com