Date:27/01/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/01/27/stories/2006012719890300.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

The right way to treat stroke patients

Staff Reporter

Manipal Hospital conducts workshop on neuro-endovascular surgery

Bangalore: Stroke is a common clinical problem that occurs without a warning.

The consequence of a stroke can be devastating for the patient, who may suffer severe disabilities, said N.K. Venkataramana, Director-Manipal Institute for Neurological Disorders.

He was speaking at a workshop on Neuro-Endovascular surgery organised here on Thursday by Manipal Institute for Neurological Disorders (MIND) at Manipal Hospital.

He said the basis of all stroke treatment is prompt medical attention, as early recognition, investigation and treatment is the most appropriate route for enhancing maximum recovery from stroke.

Surgery

The workshop also included endovascular surgery with lectures and discussions on it.

Patients with aneurysms and arterio-venous malformation underwent endovascular procedures at the workshop.

Jay U. Howington, Associate Clinical Professor of Neurosurgery and Director of the stroke programme at the Savannah Neurological Institute at Savannah, Georgia, participated in the workshop.

Inaugurated

A new endovascular suite was inaugurated at Manipal Hospital.

"We offer state-of-the-art endovascular treatment for strokes and other neurovascular diseases such as aneurysm," said Swaroop Gopal, consultant neuro-endovascular surgeon at Manipal Institute for Neurological Disorders.

The workshop and the visit of Dr. Howington are part of efforts of the Manipal Institute for Neurological Disorders in creating awareness on the latest technology available for early treatment of stroke or "brain attack" and modification of risk factors to prevent stroke, said Nagendra Swamy, Director, Medical Services and Postgraduate Studies, Manipal Hospital. The management of cerebral aneurysms has seen a paradigm shift with the introduction of coil-like devices for their treatment as an alternative to surgery in certain situations.

The emergence of endovascular neurosurgeons is a marked progress in the management of cerebral aneurysms and other neurovascular problems, Dr. Swamy added.