*12 फरवरी तक मनाया जाएगा ’’हर घर परिवार सूर्य नमस्कार अभियान’’* 

DOCTORS AT FORTIS HOSPITAL, MOHALI SAVE A SEPTUAGENARIAN PATIENT FROM A DEADLY STROKE

Mandi, January 20

For Detailed News-

Stroke is one of the most common causes of mortality and handicap in the elderly population but miracles do happen: Dr. Amit Shankar Singh

A 73-year elderly male patient Mr. Gian Chand from Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh (HP) reached Fortis Hospital Mohali with a history of headache for the last 4 days and inability to speak since morning. The patient was evaluated in detail by Associate Consultant Neurology, Fortis Hospital, Mohali Dr. Amit Shankar Singh. On diagnosis, it was found that the patient had Aphasia (inability to speak), right facial weakness, and right-sided Hemiparesis (Paralysis).

Dr. Amit immediately ordered a CT Scan of the Head, which showed a large haemorrhagic infarction (both bleeding and clotting) in the left front parietal region of the brain. Swelling around the affected area was causing the mid-line to shift into another side of the brain. This was an unusual type of stroke, as it was showing both clots and bleeding in the brain. Because of the large size of this lesion, the condition of the patient worsened very fast and he became unconscious and started having fits. The patient was immediately put on a ventilator, shifted to Neuro-ICU, and put on medications to decrease swelling.

To find out the exact cause and nature of the disease, a brain MRI with MR Venography was done. According to Dr. Amit, such large infarctions with haemorrhage are not that common in most patients and patients can be saved even without surgery also, if the cause is diagnosed. In this patient, Brain MRI showed venous infarction along with thrombosis (blockage) in the left transverse and sigmoid sinus, and hence there was an obstruction in veins (vessels taking blood from the brain back to the heart), rather than arteries (which bring blood from heart to brain).

Arterial clots are common and very dangerous, whether it’s brain or heart. In the heart, they cause heart attacks and in the brain, they commonly cause brain attack or brain stroke. But venous infarctions are also now recognized commonly and they can be managed if rightly diagnosed and treated timely with appropriate medications.

https://propertyliquid.com

Based on these findings, the patient was immediately put on anti-coagulants (the drugs which dissolve clots in veins of the brain very effectively), along with medications to control fits besides medications to decrease swelling in the brain. With this treatment, the patient responded well. Slowly, his fits were brought under control, he became conscious and movements of his right side of the body also started. Repeat brain imaging showed a decrease in the mid-line shift, decrease in swelling of the brain. The patient was tracheotomised and finally taken off the ventilator. His weakness also improved gradually and was discharged on medications with few tubes to assist feeding and urination.

After one month, what seemed a pure miracle was that the patient came in OPD walking on his own. He was able to eat and speak properly after his tracheostomy was removed. Dr. Amit told that the patient’s family members were very happy, especially the granddaughter, who herself is in the medical profession, as she never thought that his grandfather will recover completely without going through any major handicap. According to Dr. Amit, such cases give hope to all of us that patients with stroke can be revived, if taken care of on time, and also the right diagnosis is of the foremost importance.

It is worth mentioning that Dr. Amit Shankar Singh is a well-known neurologist from Tricity, trained in very reputed institutes of India. He had his thesis on Stroke and has a special interest in Stroke Management. In Fortis Hospital, Stroke Management is at the topmost level. All recent advances in the Management of Stroke are available in Fortis Hospital Mohali, with well-trained doctors.