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Table of Contents
Stroke-An Infographic
1. About Stroke & Neurovascular Interventions Foundation
2. Stroke and Neurointervention FAQ
3. Diseases & Treatments
4. Patient Stories
5. The Team
- The Founders Story
- Member Proles
6 Annexures
- Media Gallery
- Useful Resources & Links
- Foundation Brochure
Contact Us
www.neurointerventionindia.com
www.facebook.com/NeurointerventionGurgaon
HEALTH
BAD
F
O
WARNING SIGNS
Sudden tingling, numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body
Trouble speaking or understanding l Problems in one or both eyes l Intense, unexplained headache
Dizziness
15mn
of a weakened blood
vessel rupturing bleeding
into the brain.
O
FACT RS
K
S
RI
STR
OK
E
Stroke-An Infographic
T
ES
MRI scan of the brain
to show areas of brain
damage due to lack of
blood ow.
Angiogram to evaluate the
calibre and patency
Every year millions of people become victim of stroke. It is considered to be the third
most common cause of death and disability. The statistics states that one in six people
will have stroke in their lifetime and this toll will increase with ow of time, in countries
like India due to changing lifestyle, urbanization, stress, smoking, salt/alcohol intake.
However with the help of modern methods of minimally invasive neuro intervention
techniques have revolutionized the treatment of carotid stenosis, acute strokes, brain
aneurysm and AVMs many patients can achieve a complete recovery and lead a normal
life if they are detected early.
The prime focus of this foundation is to educate masses through dierent media platforms like WhatsApp, Facebook, Youtube and also through a special application for
stroke. Along with this collaborative program with other agencies and training program
for healthcare professionals will also be part of its curriculum.
Dr. Vipul says; The increase in numbers of deaths due to stroke is majorly due to lack of
awareness. Therefore the foundation will be helping the people and communities to
recognize the symptoms of stroke and prevent it from its consequences. Dr Gupta claries with early symptoms of stroke named as FAST that can help you to recognize the
stroke and could save you from further consequences. Here F stands for face drooping,
second A that stands for weakness in arms, then S reminds the sign of diculty in
speaking and Tis for time to call for hospital emergency. Apart from these four there are
symptoms, which are beyond FAST includes trouble in understanding, severe
headache, dizziness, numbness in leg.Once the symptoms are recognized person should
be immediately taken to hospital particularly stroke centres, where could be given a
stroke treatment.
He further explains; If patient comes in rst few hours (4.5 hrs), clot busting drug (t-PA)
cab be given. Blood vessel can also be opened by intervention technique. Neurointerventionist goes through leg blood vessel and by special devices can take out the clot to
restore the blood ow, helping brain to recover. The intervention can be done upto
8-hours and by these modern treatment methods patients have better chances to recover after stroke.
The foundation also highlights the prevention from risk factors of stroke such as 80% of
strokes can be prevented by following seven simple ways by getting physically active,
healthy eating habits, saying no to smoking, controlling blood sugar levels, lowering cholesterol and shedding out excess weight through regular exercise.
What are the risk factors involved? Are there any health complications
associated with it?
These procedures carry a small risk of bleeding in the brain, but studies have shown that
the overall rate of survival patients or recovery with these treatment methods is far
better.
Videos
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRVw5-tqSKY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7sgULgi8IIE
ARTERIOVENOUS
MALFORMATION
THROMBOLYSIS
IN ACUTE
STROKE
CAROTID
ARTERY
STENOSIS
STROKE /
BRAIN ATTACK
This chapter covers 5 major areas viz. Aneurysm, Carotid Artery Stenosis, Stroke,
Thrombolysis in acute stroke and Arteriovenous malformation.
To check out case studies, procedure videos, patient testimonials
visit the website www.neurointerventionindia.com
Aneurysm
What are intracranial aneurysms?
Intracranial aneurysms are localized pathological dilatations of cerebral arteries. Most
intracranial aneurysms are saccular or berry aneurysms, whereas dissecting, fusiform,
infectious, traumatic, and oncotic aneurysms are much rarer. Saccular, or berry aneurysms, correspond to lobulated focal outpouchings of the wall of the arteries of the circle
of Willis. Current opinions suppose that intracranial aneurysms result from a combination of hemodynamic stresses and acquired degenerative changes within the arterial
wall.
How does aneurysm presents?
Aneurysms may present as
Rupture of the weak wall of such aneurysms mainly resulting in subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH),
experienced as ''the worst headache of life'' by patients.
Mass eect, causing cranial nerve symptoms
Asymptomatic, incidentally detected during imaging done for other reasons
COILING OF ANEURYSM
Randomized, prospective, international controlled trial Compared policy of neurosurgical clipping with a policy of endovascular treatment in aneurysms deemed suitable for
either therapy.
9559 patients screened, 2143 (22.4%) were randomized and the dierence in the risk of
dependency or death between the two groups was compared.
Results: at 1 year, the outcome was much better in the coiling group with relative risk
reduction of 22.6% as compared to surgical patients. The early survival advantage was
maintained for up to 7-years.
The risk of epilepsy was substantially lower in patients allocated to endovascular treatment. The risk of late rebleeding was minimally higher (0.16%). The better outcome in
coiling group was inspite of minimally increased risk of rebleeding.
According to recent American Stroke Association Guidelines- if both clipping and coiling
are possible, coiling is preferable over surgery
Are broad neck aneurysms amenable for coiling?
Most of the broad neck aneurysms can be treated by coiling, with use of 3D and complex
coils. These coils are stable even in broad neck aneurysms.
Can stenosis of other cranial arteries such as vertebral and intracranial arteries be
treated?
Many cases of stroke occur due to stenosis in vertebral & intracranial atherosclerotic
disease. Recent studies have shown that these patients with intracranial stenosis have
high risk of stroke in spite of medical treatment. Recent advances in technology has
made angioplasty and stenting possible in these patients
Arteriovenous Malformation
What is AVM disease?
An arteriovenous malformation, or AVM for short, is a group of blood vessels that are
abnormally interconnected with one another. AVMs can occur in dierent organs of the
body, but brain AVMs are the most problematic. Another term for AVM is "arteriovenous
stula."
What are the symptoms of disease?
About half of the patients nd out they have an AVM only after they suer a brain hemorrhage. The other half are aected by, headaches, and stroke symptoms such as or
hemiparesis
How is it diagnosed?
Often, the diagnosis of an AVM can be suspected by an expert radiologist with just CT
scan of the brain. Most physicians, however, feel more comfortable diagnosing AVMs
after performing an MRI. However AVMs can be missed on non-invasive imaging and for
nal diagnosis and evaluation by cerebral angiography is mandatory. In cases when
bleeding has occurred, the AVM can be completely obscured by intracerebral bleeding,
requiring a to establish a nal diagnosis.
Why does it develop?
Brain AVMs aect about 0.1% of the population, and are present at birth, but they rarely
aect more than one member of the same family. They happen roughly equally in men
and women. AVMs are thought to be due to abnormal development of blood vessels in
utero and may be present since birth. An AVM is not a cancer, and does not spread to
other parts of the body. Dural AVFs, in adults are an acquired disorder that can occur
probably after thrombosis of dural sinuses.
How is it treated?
There are 3 main modes of treatment. Endovascular embolization, micro neurosurgical
excision and radiosurgery. These are given alone or in combination. Which of them is
best for you is decided by our panel of experts after discussing your detailed clinical and
radiological data. Your doctor will recommend the best treatment for you and this will be
determined by the size of your AVM and also the location. It is not uncommon to recommend a combination of treatments.
Embolization
Under general anaesthesia a small catheter is advanced from the groin, into the brain
vessels and then into the AVM. A liquid, non-reactive material (onyx) or glue is injected
into the vessels which block the AVM o. There is a small risk to this procedure and the
chances of completely curing the AVM using this technique depend on the size of the
AVM. It is frequently combined with the other treatments such as radiation or surgery or
it can be staged in multiple sessions.
Radiation Treatment
This treatment is also known as Radio surgery or Stereotactic Radiotherapy. A narrow
x-ray beam is focused on the AVM such that a high dose is concentrated on the AVM with
a much lower dose delivered to the rest of the brain. This radiation causes the AVM to
shrivel up and close o over a period of 2-3 years in up to 80% of patients. The risk of
complications is low. Until the AVM is completely closed o, the risk of bleeding still
persists. This treatment can only be performed in small size AVM.
Surgery
This is the oldest method for treating AVMs. The AVM is surgically removed in an operating room under general anesthesia. Since AVMs do not grow back, the cure is immediate
and permanent if the AVM is removed completely. The risks of surgery are considered to
be high for AVMs that are located in deep parts of the brain with very important functions. So surgery is usually indicated in those patient who are bled with large hematoma
or the AVM is supercial and in non eloquent part of the brain.
Are there any alternatives?
Other than above mentioned modes of therapy no alternative is available. Only other
option is to do nothing at all and just monitor the AVM. Your doctors may recommend
observation if they feel that treatment can not be oered safely or when an AVM is
discovered at a late age.
What will happen if it is left untreated?
There is risk of bleeding at the rate of 1-2 %/year after the diagnosis. But risk is much
more if the AVm has bled or has a weak spot such as as aneurysm. Cumulative risk of
bleeding is high depending upon the expected life expectancy.
Patient Stories
Patients with acute ischaemic stroke or paralytic attacks usually face a life of dependancy
with a huge psychological, social and nancial burden. Acute stroke happens due to
blockage of blood supply. Although some brain cells die immediately, there is usually a
part of brain which can still be revived if the blood supply is restored in next few hours.
This can be done by giving thrombolytic drugs (Intravenous thrombolysis) which act as
clot busters and open up the blockage in the arteries. This can result in reversal of stroke
and better recovery. Direct delivery of drugs in the blocked artery (Intra-arterial or endovascular) therapy can be more eective when clot is large or when IV therapy cannot be
given. This is done by placing a catheter (a small tube) from one of the leg blood vessels
in to the blocked vessel followed by injection of blockage (clot) dissolving drugs. Many
mechanical devices are also available which can be used to extract clot from the brain to
open the blood vessel. This selective (intra-arterial) treatment can be given at least up to
8-hours after the brain attack. First such case of mechanical recnalization using penumbra device in North India was done in Medanta, The Medicity. Recently rst case of direct
stenting to open up a blocked vessel was performed in the hospital. All patients of stroke
are immediately assessed with CT angiography and perfusion (brain blood ow) imaging
using 256 slice CT scan to detect patients which have brain which can be revived and can
benet with immediate treatment. We are the only centre in North India to use such
technology as a part of protocol.
The aneurysm disease commonly strikes at prime of one's life at age of 40-50 yrs.
Although it is less common then some other forms of stroke, because the disease strikes
a fairly young age and is often fatal the loss of productive life years is similar to that for
cerebral infarction or intracerebral hemorrhage. Many patients (up to 30%) do not
survive initial bleeding. Even the patients who survive more than 50% of patients do not
survive even for a month because the aneurysm bleeds again. Even the patients who
survive the initial bleeding, more than 50% of patients do not survive even for a month
because the aneurysm bleeds again. Open surgery "clipping" has been the conventional
method of aneurysm treatment but has high chances of trauma to normal brain parenchyma. By endovascular method a microcatheter (a very thin tube) is placed into the
brain aneurysms through the leg blood vessel. Then the aneurysm is occluded by using
specialized coils. This procedure known as "coiling" has advantage of minimal injury to
normal brain and leading to better outcomes. Studies have shown that patient recovery
is much better with coiling rather than clipping. Medanta The Medicity has developed a
dedicated brain aneurysm program and more than 90% of brain aneurysms are treated
by endovascular means with very good clinical outcomes.
The TEAM
A Doctor or a God?
He shared an interesting story yesterday of how he puts in his best eorts, yet brings
down the unrealistic expectations of attendants/patients to realistic levels.
"An attendant with a patient walks in. He is a rich and educated man and has come in a
Mercedez Benz. In a panicky state, as the relative has been hit by a stroke, he inquires
about the surgery cost and also requests the doctor for a guaranteed cure. Dr Vipul
replies, Who do you visit, when your car needs repair? The gentleman replies, Of
course the authorized showroom of Merecedez.
Dr Vipul continues, So when your car needs repair, you go to the people who manufactured/created it. And who created you and your relative? The attendant replies, God
of course Dr Vipul explains, So ideally for the repair of a human being, you need to go
to God herself. But I am not God, I will put the best of my eorts, without guarantees.
The attendant is able to understand the limitations of the doctor. The doctor proceeds
for the surgery and the patient comes out of the operation theater healed. And the
patient and the doctor live happily thereafter."
(A happy ending here, but not always. The patients and attendants begin to treat him like a God, but he does not
want to be one.)
Medical Approach
He has an admirable precision, which is so critical in his profession. He holds high standards of integrity and ethics and does not shy away in discussing the ground realities
with the attendants of the patient. No wonder his reputation and credibility has travelled
far and wide.
He emphasizes, We always perform surgeries in teams and team orientation is very
crucial for success in our profession. Yet it is sometimes a challenge as a leader to lead a
team of people of diverse backgrounds and cultures.
He specializes in intracranial aneurysms embolization (coiling), ArterioVenous malformation (AVMs) and tumour embolization, Angioplasty and stenting of arterial stenosis
including carotid stenting, Intra-arterial Thrombolysis for stroke and Percutaneous spinal
procedures such as vertebroplasty and other interventional procedures etc.
The Brainy Battle Goes On
His primary focus area is Endovascular Neurosurgery. Before joining Medanta, he was the
Head Interventional Neuroradiology (Endovascular Neurosurgery) at Max Super Speciality
Hospital, Saket, New Delhi. He has also worked as Associate Professor in dept. of Neuroradiology (AIIMS), New Delhi. He has done fellowship training in Vascular and Interventional
Neuroradiolgy from Foundation Rothschild, Paris; Cleveland Clinic (USA) and in Italy.
He keeps travelling across North India to train the medicos especially the neurosciences
professionals. He has more than 45 publications in journals, 7 chapters in books and more
than 40 abstract (paper) presentations in Indian and international conferences. He has
been visiting Professor in UMASS general Hospital, Boston, USA. He is a member of several professional bodies and is especially keen on creating stroke (brain attack) awareness.
Member Profiles
Dr Sumit Singh
A topper in DM neurology at All India Institutes of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi,
Dr. Sumit Singh is the Head- Movement disorders & headache at Medanta the Medicity.
He was awarded the BL Soni Gold Medal for being the best Resident in AIIMS where he
was an Associate Professor in neurology for 10 years. He started the rst headache clinic
and the Neuromuscular disorders clinic in north India at AIIMS in 2002. He is a known
expert in Parkinsons disease and movement disorders. As a headache specialist he initiated the use of botulinium toxin for the rst time in the country, and extended its usage
in trigeminal Neuralgia.
He is one of the few botox injectors in India for Spasticity, Limb dystonias, hemifacial
spasm, oral dyskinesias, spasmodic dysphonia and writers cramp. Dr Sumit had been
with Deep Brain Stimulation Program for Parkinsons disease at AIIMS and has established the same at Medanta the Medicity. He has innovated the plasma exchange protocols for acute neuropathies, Myasthenic crisis, Polymyositis, and has introduced special
protocols for Multiple Sclerosis for the rst time in the country. . Dr Sumit has more than
90 publications in National and international journals and has written several chapters in
books. His main areas of expertise are Movement disorders, headache and Neuromuscular disorders.
Dr Gaurav Goel
Dr. Gaurav Goel is a Neuro-Interventionist trained from prestigious Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital in Canada. He specializes in the treatment of vascular disorders
of the brain and spine like coiling of aneurysms, embolization of the AVM (arterio-venous
malformations), stenting in intracranial and extracranial atherosclerotic disease and
tumor embolization. He also has vast experience in newly developed ow diverter stents
for intracranial aneurysm. His primary area of interest remains in the treatment of acute
stroke using mechanical and chemical thrombolytic agents. He also runs a very successful spine pain management clinic, performing various spine procedures like nerve blocks,
facet blocks, epidural blocks, and vertebroplasty are being done to reduce the patients
pain, without the need for the surgery. He has managed more than 2000 of such cases
during his fellowship training program in Canada and has now brought this expertise to
Medanta. Dr. Gaurav Goel is one of the very few DM neuro-radiologists in the country
and is a leading expert in the diagnostic neuro-imaging including the recent advances like
diusion, MR/CT perfusion, MR/CT angiography and spectroscopy.
Annexures
Media Gallery
Foundation Brochure
Contact Us
Dr. Vipul Gupta
Head- Neurovascular Intervention Centre
Medanta Institute of Neurosciences
Medanta The Medicity
Sector 38, Gurgaon, Haryana - 122001, India
Telephone: +91-124-4141414 Extn: 6610
Mobile: +91-9810542372
Email: drvipulgupta25@gmail.com
For Appointment: 9810332224
Dr. Gaurav Goel
MBBS, MD, DM, Felloe ( interventional Neuro Radiology)
Consultant- Interventional Neuroradiology
Medanta Institute of Neurosciences
Mobile: +91-9650789820
Email: gaurav.goel@medanta.org
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