MOUNT ELIZABETH HOSPITAL

Neurology is a branch of medicine that deals with brain disorders and the entire central , automatic , and peripheral nervous system , including the brain and spinal cord . Any disorders in these areas will impact the rest of the body , making diagnosis complex and difficult .

Mount Elizabeth Hospital ’ s ( MEH ) neurologists are able to offer expert diagnosis and management of neurological symptoms associated with the nervous system by combining interdisciplinary synergies with modern technology and allied health support .

Patients have complete access to our team of neurologists , neuroradiologists , and neurovascular specialists with patient-centered clinical experience in conditions such as stroke , brain tumours , brain aneurysms , movement disorders , carotid stenosis , epilepsy , and spinal disorders . Patient treatments are not only guided by our overseas-trained specialists , but also with the use of extensive diagnostic tools such as the PET-MRI system , which provides accurate images of the internal body to spot potential concerns .

Should surgical intervention be required , neurosurgeons of various subspecialities , including paediatrics , oncology , and the spine , are on hand to perform both emergency procedures and advanced surgeries such as awake craniotomy , deep brain stimulation , and non-invasive radiation therapy . Gamma Knife radiosurgery , in particular , has been shown to provide reliable results with a high degree of safety , a shorter hospital stay , and faster recovery .

Varun Panjwani & Mr Yong Yih Ming

Deep brain stimulation ( DBS ) surgery offers life changing relief to patients diagnosed with Parkinson ’ s disease , essential tremor , epilepsy , and obsessive compulsive disorders . It is a reversible procedure which involves inserting an implantable device into the clavicle to generate electrical pulses to specific parts of the brain causing the neurological disorders . DBS helps to preserve function and improve the quality of life for patients . It has also been proven to reduce medication usage for over a decade , which can help to offset the cost of the surgery .

Awake craniotomy is performed to treat tumours located near areas of the brain that control language , movement , or cognition . Patients are able to provide in-the-moment feedback to the surgeons during surgery by making movements or answering questions when requested by the operation team . This highly specialised surgical procedure helps to remove the maximum amount of tumour while reducing the risk to critical areas as the surgeon constantly receives immediate feedback .

Gamma Knife is a form of radiotherapy that can treat both benign and malignant brain tumours . These include acoustic neuromas , meningiomas , and other benign non-tumoural indications such as epilepsy , arteriovenous malformations , trigeminal neuralgia ( a form of chronic pain in the face and brain ), and other neurological problems .

A wide range of neuro-rehabilitation services are also available to help patients better recover from neurological disorders . We have occupational therapists who will train patients in the activities of daily living and vocational counselling ; physiotherapists will help them work on balance activities , gait training , and vestibular rehabilitation , while speech therapists oversee the patient ’ s progress in communication with a focus on speech , language , and swallowing rehabilitation .

Following a neurological event , patients often face problems that affect their speech , language , and ability to swallow . A rehabilitation physician conducts a holistic assessment of a patient ’ s condition to personalise a treatment plan aimed at improving the patient ’ s quality of life .

MEH ’ s dedicated medical team and personalised recovery regimes go a long way towards helping patients regain their health and return to their lives in society as soon as they can .

GlobalHealthAsiaPacific . com SEPTEMBER 2022

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