Advanced Neurological Care at MGM Healthcare

MGM Healthcare offers comprehensive and state-of-the-art treatment for a wide range of neurological disorders. Below is a detailed overview of the various conditions treated at the hospital and the advanced methods employed to ensure optimal patient outcomes.

1. Brain Tumors

Types of Brain Tumors Treated:

• Gliomas: A type of tumour that starts in the glial cells of the brain or spine.
• Meningiomas: Tumors that form on membranes covering the brain and spinal cord.
• Pituitary Tumors: Abnormal growths in the pituitary gland, affecting hormone production.
• Acoustic Neuromas: Non-cancerous tumours on the nerve that connects the ear to the brain.
• Metastatic Brain Tumors: Tumors that have spread to the brain from other parts of the body.

Diagnostic Techniques:

• MRI and CT Scans: Provide detailed imaging to identify the size, location, and type of brain tumour.
• PET Scans: Used to detect cancerous activity within the brain.
• Biopsy: A sample of the tumour is taken for pathological analysis to determine the type of tumour and appropriate treatment.

Treatment Options:

• Craniotomy: Traditional open surgery to remove the tumour, providing direct access to the brain.
• Endoscopic Surgery: A minimally invasive approach using an endoscope, often resulting in quicker recovery times and less scarring.
• Laser Interstitial Thermal Therapy (LITT): Uses lasers to heat and destroy tumour cells, guided by MRI for precision.

• Gamma Knife Radiosurgery: A precise form of radiation therapy that targets tumours without the need for an incision, ideal for small to medium-sized tumours.
• External Beam Radiation Therapy: Uses high-energy beams to destroy tumour cells, often used post-surgery to eliminate residual cells.

Utilizes drugs to kill cancer cells, administered orally, intravenously, or directly into the cerebrospinal fluid.

4. Targeted Therapy: 

 Focuses on specific molecules involved in tumour growth and progression, such as tyrosine kinase inhibitors and monoclonal antibodies, offering a more personalized treatment approach.

2. Spinal Disorders

Common Spinal Conditions Treated:

• Spinal Stenosis: Narrowing of the spinal canal causing pressure on the spinal cord and nerves.
• Herniated Discs: When the soft centre of a spinal disc pushes through a crack in the tougher exterior casing.
• Spondylolisthesis: Condition where one of the vertebrae slips out of place onto the vertebra below it.
• Spinal Cord Injuries: Damage to the spinal cord resulting in a loss of function, such as mobility or feeling.
• Degenerative Disc Disease: Age-related wear and tear on a spinal disc causing pain and discomfort.

Diagnostic Techniques:

• MRI and CT Scans: Provide detailed images of the spinal structure to identify abnormalities.
• X-rays: Help identify bone-related issues such as fractures or misalignment.
• Myelogram: Uses contrast dye and X-rays to highlight the spinal cord and nerves, particularly useful in diagnosing spinal stenosis.
• Electromyography (EMG): Measures the electrical activity of muscles to detect nerve damage, aiding in the diagnosis of conditions like herniated discs or spinal stenosis.

Treatment Options:

• Physical Therapy: Exercises to strengthen the muscles around the spine, improve flexibility, and reduce pain.
• Medications: Pain relievers, anti-inflammatory drugs, and muscle relaxants to manage symptoms.
• Epidural Steroid Injections: Injections into the epidural space to reduce inflammation and pain around the spinal nerves.

2. Surgical Techniques:

• Discectomy: Removal of a herniated disc to relieve pressure on the spinal nerves.
• Laminectomy: Removal of part of the vertebra to relieve pressure on the spinal cord, often used in cases of spinal stenosis.
• Spinal Fusion: Fusing two or more vertebrae to stabilize the spine and alleviate pain caused by conditions such as spondylolisthesis.
• Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery (MISS): Uses smaller incisions leading to faster recovery times and reduced risk of complications, ideal for treating herniated discs and spinal stenosis.

3. Stroke Management

Types of Stroke:

• Ischemic Stroke: Caused by a blockage in a blood vessel supplying the brain, often due to a blood clot.
• Hemorrhagic Stroke: Caused by bleeding in or around the brain, often due to a ruptured aneurysm or high blood pressure.
• Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA): Often called a "mini-stroke," involves temporary symptoms due to a brief blockage in blood flow.

Diagnostic Techniques:

• CT and MRI Scans: Identify the type and location of the stroke, crucial for determining the appropriate treatment.
• Carotid Ultrasound: Detects blockages or narrowing in the carotid arteries that can lead to strokes.
• Cerebral Angiography: Visualizes blood flow in the brain’s arteries to identify blockages or abnormalities.

Treatment Options:

• Thrombolysis (tPA): A clot-busting drug administered within a few hours of stroke onset to dissolve the clot and restore blood flow.
• Mechanical Thrombectomy: A procedure to remove a large blood clot from the brain using a catheter, effective for large vessel occlusions.

2. Post-Stroke Care:

• Neurorehabilitation: Includes physical, occupational, and speech therapy to help patients regain lost functions and improve quality of life.
• Medications: Anticoagulants and antiplatelets to prevent future strokes by reducing the risk of blood clot formation.
• Lifestyle Modifications: Diet, exercise, and smoking cessation programs to reduce stroke risk factors and improve overall health.

4. Epilepsy

Types of Epilepsy Treated:

• Generalized Epilepsy: Involves seizures that affect both sides of the brain.
• Focal Epilepsy: Involves seizures that start in one area of the brain.
• Absence Epilepsy: Characterized by brief, sudden lapses in attention, often seen in children.
• Temporal Lobe Epilepsy: Affects the temporal lobes of the brain, often causing complex partial seizures.

Diagnostic Techniques:

• Electroencephalogram (EEG): Measures electrical activity in the brain to detect abnormal patterns indicative of epilepsy.
• MRI and CT Scans: Identify structural abnormalities in the brain that may cause seizures.
• Video EEG Monitoring: Combines video and EEG to capture seizure events, helping to pinpoint their origin in the brain.

Treatment Options:

Anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs) tailored to the type of seizures, aiming to reduce frequency and severity.

2. Surgical Interventions:

• Resective Surgery: Removal of the seizure focus in the brain, often used for focal epilepsy.
• Corpus Callosotomy: Cutting the connections between the two brain hemispheres to prevent seizure spread, used in severe cases.
• Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS): A device implanted to stimulate the vagus nerve and reduce seizure frequency, used when medications are ineffective.

3. Dietary Therapy: 

Ketogenic diet, particularly for children with drug-resistant epilepsy, can significantly reduce seizure frequency.

4. Responsive Neurostimulation (RNS): 

 A device implanted in the brain that detects and responds to seizure activity, providing real-time intervention to prevent seizures.

5. Movement Disorders

Conditions Treated:

• Parkinson’s Disease: A neurodegenerative disorder affecting movement, often causing tremors, stiffness, and balance problems.
• Essential Tremor: A nervous system disorder causing involuntary and rhythmic shaking, often affecting the hands.
• Dystonia: Involuntary muscle contractions causing repetitive movements or abnormal postures.
• Huntington’s Disease: A genetic disorder causing the progressive breakdown of nerve cells in the brain.
• Tourette Syndrome: A neurological disorder characterized by repetitive, involuntary movements and vocalizations called tics.

Diagnostic Techniques:

• Clinical Evaluation: Detailed medical history and physical examination to identify symptoms and assess severity.
• MRI and PET Scans: Imaging to rule out other conditions and monitor disease progression.
• Genetic Testing: For hereditary movement disorders, such as Huntington’s disease, to confirm diagnosis and guide treatment.

Treatment Options:

• Levodopa: The most effective drug for Parkinson’s disease, helps replenish dopamine levels.
• Dopamine Agonists: Mimic dopamine effects in the brain, used in combination with Levodopa.
• Botulinum Toxin Injections: Used for dystonia and other focal movement disorders to reduce muscle contractions.

2. Surgical Treatments:

• Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS): Electrodes implanted in the brain to regulate abnormal activity, used for Parkinson’s disease, essential tremor, and dystonia.

3. Physical Therapy: 

Helps improve mobility, balance, and overall function, often combined with medication and surgical treatments.

6. Neurovascular Disorders

Conditions Treated:

• Aneurysms: Bulging, weak areas in the walls of arteries that can rupture and cause bleeding in the brain.
• Arteriovenous Malformations (AVMs): Abnormal tangles of blood vessels connecting arteries and veins, disrupting normal blood flow.
• Carotid Artery Disease: Narrowing or blockage of the carotid arteries, increasing the risk of stroke.
• Cavernous Malformations: Abnormal clusters of blood vessels in the brain or spinal cord, which can bleed and cause neurological symptoms.

Diagnostic Techniques:

• Cerebral Angiography: Detailed imaging of blood vessels in the brain using contrast dye, essential for diagnosing aneurysms and AVMs.
• CT and MRI Scans: Non-invasive imaging to detect vascular abnormalities and monitor treatment progress.
• MRA and CTA: Magnetic Resonance Angiography and Computed Tomography Angiography for detailed blood vessel imaging, useful in planning treatments.

Treatment Options:

• Coiling: Inserting coils into an aneurysm to prevent rupture by promoting clotting and sealing off the aneurysm.
• Stent-Assisted Coiling: Using stents to support the coils and blood vessels, particularly for wide-neck aneurysms.
• Embolization: Blocking abnormal blood vessels using glue-like substances or particles, often used for AVMs.

2. Surgical Treatments:

• Clipping: Placing a clip at the base of an aneurysm to prevent blood flow and rupture.
• Resection: Surgical removal of AVMs or other vascular malformations to restore normal blood flow and reduce bleeding risk.

3. Stereotactic Radiosurgery: 

 Non-invasive radiation therapy to treat AVMs and other vascular abnormalities, focusing high-dose radiation on the target area while minimizing damage to surrounding tissue.

MGM Healthcare’s Neurology and Neurosurgery department offers cutting-edge treatments for a wide array of neurological disorders, ensuring that patients receive the most effective and comprehensive care possible. With advanced diagnostic tools, state-of-the-art treatment options, and a dedicated team of specialists, MGM Healthcare stands as a beacon of hope for patients from Bangladesh and around the world seeking high-quality neurological care.

If you or a loved one is facing a neurological disorder, MGM Healthcare provides the expertise and compassionate care necessary for optimal outcomes. For more information or to schedule a consultation, visit the MGM Healthcare website or contact their international patient services team.