Fortis Mohali offers  advanced neurological, psychiatric treatments

Srinagar, July 29: Fortis Hospital Mohali has introduced advanced treatments, including Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) and Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS), to address neurological and psychiatric disorders.

A 64-year-old patient based in Jammu had been suffering from Parkinson’s Disease and had been exhibiting symptoms such as trembling of hands, arms, head, difficulty in speaking, stiffness of limbs and impaired coordination. He had become non-responsive to medicines and his symptoms had been progressing, while severely impacting his health and daily life.

Despite being on multiple medicines, the patient’s health had not shown improvement. Unable to bear the discomfort, he finally approached Dr Anupam Jindal, Additional Director, Neurosurgery, Fortis Hospital Mohali, recently.

A statement said that the Neuro-Modulation Team at Fortis Mohali comprising Dr Nishit Sawal, Consultant, Neurology; Dr Prof Vivek Gupta, Additional Director of Interventional Neuroradiology; Dr Vivek Agarwal, Consultant, Neuro-intervention and Interventional Radiology; Dr Abhishek Prasad, Consultant, Neuro-radiology; Dr Mehraaj Sandhu, Consultant, Mental Health and Behavioural Sciences; and Dr Anupam Jindal deliberated on the treatment modalities and decided to perform Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) surgery.

Deep Brain Stimulation involves implanting electrodes inside the brain to produce electrical impulses. The surgery helps improve motor complications in patients with Parkinson’s disease.

Following good rehabilitation at Fortis Mohali, the patient’s health improved and symptoms began to subside. "Slowly his life got back on track and he is leading a normal life today."

Stating that DBS had revolutionised the treatment of patients suffering from Parkinson’s disease, Dr Jindal, said, “Deep Brain Stimulation improves motor complications in patients with Parkinson's disease. Symptoms such as trembling of hands, arms, head, and difficulty in walking subside post-surgery, besides medication is also reduced.”

The second patient, a 70-year-old woman from Punjab had been suffering from severe depression with anxiety for 30 years and was not responding to medicines. The patient underwent VNS - Vagal nerve Stimulation surgery following which her depression and anxiety improved and she resumed her normal life. VNS is a small surgery in which a thin electrode is implanted on the left side of the chest. Epilepsy, fits, depression and anxiety respond very well to VNS.