Christian Medical College and Hospital neuro cath lab completes one year  

Ludhiana: The Digital Substraction Angiography (Neuro Cathlab) under the Department of Neurology at Christian Medical College & Hospital is a state-of-art lab offering advanced diagnostic and treatment procedures for stroke patients and persons with brain hemorrhage (aneurysm). More than 30 patients have undergone therapeutic procedures of removing clots from the brain circulation with a significant improvement in their disease status.
Some of the patients who had a bleeding into the brain from an abnormal blood sac (aneurysm) have been treated with obliteration of the sac with coils, preventing the patient from having bleeding again.
 
About Endovascular Treatment of Stroke:
 
Dr Anirudh Kulkarni, Assistant Professor in Neurology who has done fellowship in Neurointervention stated that Stroke or brain attack is the leading cause of death and disability. “Early treatment of stroke is of paramount importance as it can reduce the disability associated with stroke”. Recent advances in stroke treatments have introduced newer treatments like removal of the clots that block the blood supply to brain by using special stents called “clot retrievals”. These treatments are only available at the Neuro cathlab CMC & Hospital, Ludhiana.
 
Dr Jeyaraj D Pandian, Professor of Neurology and Principal, Vice-President of World Stroke Organisation mentioned this treatment is indicated only in ischemic stroke (clot blocks the blood flow in brain artery). The common symptoms for stroke are: sudden paralysis in one side, sudden numbness in one side, sudden difficulty in speaking and understanding, sudden giddiness, imbalance and loss of consciousness. Dr Pandian said that If someone or their relative experiences these stroke symptoms they should reach CMC Stroke Unit on time to avail the above facility.
 
Dr Rajeswar, Assistant Professor of Neurology said that stroke patients must reach CMC as early as possible 0-9 hours for clot bursting injection; however with the newer facility clots can be pulled out from brain arteries using stent retriever up to 24 hours.
 
 
Dr Kulkarni stated that this new technology is available in only select premier institutes in Northwest India. He added that clot removal treatment using stent has a better outcome as compared to many other acute treatments for stroke. Dr Vineeth Jaison Associate Professor of Neurology mentioned that the division of Neurointervention has created different packages for acute treatment of ischemic stroke in the newer facility.
 
Dr William Bhatti lauded the efforts of department of Neurology in starting this Neuro cathlab which will benefit people in Northwest India. He said that CMC Has been a pioneer in bringing new facilities and infrastructure to this region over the past 124 years. He also lauded the efforts of Dr Pandian in getting noble and elite citizens of the city of Ludhiana to donate to a fund that will be utilized for offering stroke treatment for poor and needy of the society. CMC administration sincerely thank and acknowledge the contribution of Mr S P Oswal, Chairman, Vardhaman Group to support poor stroke patients who are eligible to avail this treatment.
 
Stroke warning symptoms:
 
•        Sudden weakness in one side of the body
•        Sudden numbness in one side of the body
•        Sudden difficulty in speaking and understanding
•        Sudden imbalance, giddiness and unconsciousness
•        Sudden new onset headache