Monday, January 18, 2010
Gamma Knife Radiosurgery for AVM
Arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) are the leading cause of stroke in young people. Formed during embryonic development, an AVM is a tangle of dilated blood vessels that disrupts normal blood flow in the brain by pooling blood within its dense center or nidus. These vessels may enlarge over time.
The goal of treatment is to reduce this risk of fatal or debilitating hemorrhagic stroke. Twenty years ago, many patients were told their AVM was inoperable because the risks of treatment were considered too high. Today, advanced open skull surgical techniques, radiosurgery and endovascular embolization make the treatment of AVMs safer and highly effective.
http://www.gammaknifeonline.in/gamma_knife_radiosurgery_for_avm
The goal of treatment is to reduce this risk of fatal or debilitating hemorrhagic stroke. Twenty years ago, many patients were told their AVM was inoperable because the risks of treatment were considered too high. Today, advanced open skull surgical techniques, radiosurgery and endovascular embolization make the treatment of AVMs safer and highly effective.
http://www.gammaknifeonline.in/gamma_knife_radiosurgery_for_avm
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Trigeminal Neuralgia : New Treatment Option
Gamma Knife radiosurgery is a method for treating certain problems in the brain without making an incision. Two hundred-one beams of cobalt-60 radiation are focused precisely on a specific region in the brain. In the case of TN, the target area is the trigeminal nerve, just where it leaves the brain. The treatment does not require general anesthesia, and the patient stays in the hospital for less than ten hours.
log on to Gamma knife for Trigeminal neuralgia
log on to Gamma knife for Trigeminal neuralgia
Hydrocephalus
Hydrocephalus comes from Greek words: hydro means water, cephalus means head. Hydrocephalus is an abnormal accumulation of fluid "Cerebrospinal fluid, or CSF ”within cavities called ventricles inside the brain. This condition may occur at any age. CSF is produced in the ventricles, circulates through the ventricular system in the brain and is absorbed into the bloodstream. CSF is in constant circulation and has many functions. It surrounds the brain and spinal cord and acts as a protective cushion against injury. CSF contains nutrients and proteins that are needed for the nourishment and normal function of the brain. It carries waste products away from surrounding tissues. Hydrocephalus occurs when there is an imbalance between the amount of CSF that is produced and the rate at which it is absorbed. As the CSF builds up, it causes the ventricles to enlarge and the pressure inside the head to increase
Hydrocephalus - Treatment , Resources & More
Hydrocephalus - Treatment , Resources & More
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Gamma knife treatment
A Gamma knife is a device used to treat brain tumors with a high dose of radiation therapy in one day. The device was invented at the Karolinska Institute in 1967 by Lars Leksell , a Swedish Neurosurgeon.
The gamma knife device contains 201 cobaly-60 sources of approximately 30 curies (1.1 TBq) each, placed in a circular array in a heavilyshielded assembly. The device aims gamma radiation through a target point in the patient's brain. The patient wears a specialized helmet that is surgically fixed to their skull so that the brain tumor remains stationary at target point of the gamma rays. An ablative dose of radiation is thereby sent through the tumor in one treatment session, while surrounding brain tissues are relatively spared.
The gamma knife device contains 201 cobaly-60 sources of approximately 30 curies (1.1 TBq) each, placed in a circular array in a heavilyshielded assembly. The device aims gamma radiation through a target point in the patient's brain. The patient wears a specialized helmet that is surgically fixed to their skull so that the brain tumor remains stationary at target point of the gamma rays. An ablative dose of radiation is thereby sent through the tumor in one treatment session, while surrounding brain tissues are relatively spared.
Log on to http://www.gammaknifeonline.in/ for details .
Thursday, March 19, 2009
PsychoSurgery
Clinical depression or major depression is a mental disorder characterised by a pervasive low mood, low self-esteem, and loss of interest or pleasure in normally enjoyable activities. Depression is a disabling condition that adversely affects a person’s family, work or school life, sleeping and eating habits, and general health.
Diagnosis
Depression is now recognised by doctors as a potentially serious medical condition. The diagnosis of major depressive disorder is based on the patient’s self-reported experiences, behaviour reported by relatives or friends, and a mental status exam. The most common time of onset is between the ages of 30 and 40 years, with a later peak between 50 and 60 years.
Approximately 3.4 per cent of people with major depression commit suicide, and up to 60 per cent of all people who commit suicide have depression or another mood disorder.
Treatment
Most patients are treated in the community with antidepressant medication and some with psychotherapy or counselling. Medications may relieve depression only partially, may not help, or may stop working after a while. Treatment-resistant depression (TRD) occurs when 4 or more adequate antidepressant treatments have not provided desired improvement. There are also as many as four million individuals that suffer from this type of depression that is known as ‘Treatment Resistant’. These are people that have tried everything, medication, therapy, shock treatments, you name it, but all have proven to be ineffective.
Surgical procedure
Neuro science is now offering a surgical procedure to individuals who feel that all other options have failed them and are desperate enough to try the surgery. This type of surgery involves drilling holes in the patient’s head and placing electrodes in an area of the brain known as ‘Area 25’. Deep brain stimulation is Neurosurgical treatment for chronic depression in which the brain is stimulated with electrical impulses. Deep brain stimulation is an invasive form of brain stimulation treatment for depression.
Deep brain stimulation
Deep brain stimulation works much like a pacemaker for your brain. With deep brain stimulation, a neurostimulator device is implanted in your chest and electrodes are implanted in your brain. Wires under your skin connect the electrodes to the neurostimulator. The neurostimulator sends electrical signals to your brain, affecting mood centres and improving depression symptoms. This surgery is reversible and the electrodes can be adjusted without further invading the brain. It is performed under a local anaesthetic, and the changes in patients could sometimes be seen ‘almost instantly’.
Vagus nerve stimulation
Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) has a privileged place in the management of drug-resistant depression depressive disorder. Despite the fact that surgery is needed to implant the stimulating device, the option of long-term use largely devoid of severe side effects would give this treatment modality a privileged place in the management of drug-resistant depression.
Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) in humans refers generally to stimulation of the left vagus nerve at the cervical level using the NeuroCybernetic Prosthesis. This equipment consists basically of three parts:
The implantable, multiprogrammable bipolar pulse generator
Two helical electrodes, which are wrapped around the vagus nerve and are linked to the pulse generator by a bipolar lead; and
A programming wand linked to a computer running programming software, which allows non-invasive programming. The pulse generator is implanted in a subcutaneous pocket in the left chest wall, whereas the electrodes are attached to the vagus nerve. VNS improves depressed mood by affecting the metabolism and thus the function of limbic structures and altering the concentration of monoamines in the brain.
It is interesting and impressive to see how the patient’s lives change over time. They go from being withdrawn and not interacting to going back to work, and show marked improvement in self-care and social function. They live their lives much more fully than they were when they were stuck in the grip of depression.
Diagnosis
Depression is now recognised by doctors as a potentially serious medical condition. The diagnosis of major depressive disorder is based on the patient’s self-reported experiences, behaviour reported by relatives or friends, and a mental status exam. The most common time of onset is between the ages of 30 and 40 years, with a later peak between 50 and 60 years.
Approximately 3.4 per cent of people with major depression commit suicide, and up to 60 per cent of all people who commit suicide have depression or another mood disorder.
Treatment
Most patients are treated in the community with antidepressant medication and some with psychotherapy or counselling. Medications may relieve depression only partially, may not help, or may stop working after a while. Treatment-resistant depression (TRD) occurs when 4 or more adequate antidepressant treatments have not provided desired improvement. There are also as many as four million individuals that suffer from this type of depression that is known as ‘Treatment Resistant’. These are people that have tried everything, medication, therapy, shock treatments, you name it, but all have proven to be ineffective.
Surgical procedure
Neuro science is now offering a surgical procedure to individuals who feel that all other options have failed them and are desperate enough to try the surgery. This type of surgery involves drilling holes in the patient’s head and placing electrodes in an area of the brain known as ‘Area 25’. Deep brain stimulation is Neurosurgical treatment for chronic depression in which the brain is stimulated with electrical impulses. Deep brain stimulation is an invasive form of brain stimulation treatment for depression.
Deep brain stimulation
Deep brain stimulation works much like a pacemaker for your brain. With deep brain stimulation, a neurostimulator device is implanted in your chest and electrodes are implanted in your brain. Wires under your skin connect the electrodes to the neurostimulator. The neurostimulator sends electrical signals to your brain, affecting mood centres and improving depression symptoms. This surgery is reversible and the electrodes can be adjusted without further invading the brain. It is performed under a local anaesthetic, and the changes in patients could sometimes be seen ‘almost instantly’.
Vagus nerve stimulation
Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) has a privileged place in the management of drug-resistant depression depressive disorder. Despite the fact that surgery is needed to implant the stimulating device, the option of long-term use largely devoid of severe side effects would give this treatment modality a privileged place in the management of drug-resistant depression.
Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) in humans refers generally to stimulation of the left vagus nerve at the cervical level using the NeuroCybernetic Prosthesis. This equipment consists basically of three parts:
The implantable, multiprogrammable bipolar pulse generator
Two helical electrodes, which are wrapped around the vagus nerve and are linked to the pulse generator by a bipolar lead; and
A programming wand linked to a computer running programming software, which allows non-invasive programming. The pulse generator is implanted in a subcutaneous pocket in the left chest wall, whereas the electrodes are attached to the vagus nerve. VNS improves depressed mood by affecting the metabolism and thus the function of limbic structures and altering the concentration of monoamines in the brain.
It is interesting and impressive to see how the patient’s lives change over time. They go from being withdrawn and not interacting to going back to work, and show marked improvement in self-care and social function. They live their lives much more fully than they were when they were stuck in the grip of depression.
Monday, July 7, 2008
Computer Games Help People With Dementia
Computer games offer an exciting and engaging way of helping older people with dementia keep their brain active and learn new skills. This is the finding of Arlene Astell and her colleagues at the Universities of St Andrews and Dundee.Poor memory and concentration make it difficult for people with dementia to function. 'Living in the moment' is a project that has drawn on the principles of gaming development and the psychology of dementia to develop helpful and fun computer games for dementia sufferers. The presentation will include videos of the games being used by participants, who were involved at every stage of its development. The project demonstrated that people with dementia can learn new activities with appropriate prompting. Arlene said; 'Working together with people with dementia we have explored over 20 different games and activities in our efforts to find out what people enjoy. The people with a diagnosis of dementia were very helpful in telling us what they like and dislike and were very accommodating in trying out what ever we put in front of them.'
'This project may be unique in working solely with people with dementia rather than involving family or professional caregivers and it clearly demonstrates that people with a diagnosis of dementia can participate fully and make their news known.' 'Based on the feedback received we are now developing a gaming package designed to support and engage people with dementia in enjoyable and stimulating activities
'This project may be unique in working solely with people with dementia rather than involving family or professional caregivers and it clearly demonstrates that people with a diagnosis of dementia can participate fully and make their news known.' 'Based on the feedback received we are now developing a gaming package designed to support and engage people with dementia in enjoyable and stimulating activities
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