Neurology is a branch of medicine that deals with disorders of the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) and the peripheral nervous system (muscles and nerves).
The neurological examination consists of a conversation between the doctor and the patient, and a physical examination.
The medical interview provides information about the complaints that brought the patient to the neurologist, the medical history (previous illnesses) and family medical history are investigated, and the physical examination (neurological examination/status) determines whether the nervous system is damaged. Neurological examination is generally aimed at determining damage in the central and peripheral nervous system. Based on the interview and examination, the doctor will be able to refer the patient for further diagnostics.
Each patient is approached individually, while the examination ends with the recommendation of therapy and the necessary examinations with the aim of reducing the difficulties that have arisen or preventing the occurrence of neurological diseases.
At the Specialty Hospital Medico you can perform the following examinations:
ELECTROENCEPHALOGRAPHY (EEG)
EEG is a non-invasive, painless method of recording the electrical activity of the cerebral cortex. Electrodes are placed according to certain mounting on a clean scalp that has not been treated with any preparations (varnish, gel, foam). The patient comes to the scan with washed hair. EEG measures the voltage fluctuations resulting from the ionic current inside the neurons of the brain, i.e. the spontaneous electrical activity of the brain is recorded over a certain period of time. Despite limited spatial resolution, EEG remains a valuable research and diagnosis tool. It is one of the few mobile techniques available and offers time resolution in a millisecond range that is not possible with CT, PET, or MRI.
ELECTROMYONEUROGRAPHY (EMNG)
EMNG (electromyoneurography) is a neurological diagnostic procedure with which we evaluate the peripheral nervous system, which includes the activity of muscles and the nerves that control them. EMNG is a necessary test to determine the cause of the problems that have arisen, which may be the result of various changes in the spinal cord, peripheral nerves, at the junction of the peripheral nerve and the muscle, or in the muscle itself. With the EMNG examination we test and register the electrical activity of muscles and nerves, and its results give the doctor specific information about the extent of the injury to nerves or muscles. In addition, with this examination we can determine the exact location of the injury and thus help in its treatment.
COLOR DOPPLER OF THE CAROTID AND VERTEBRAL ARTERIES
“Ultrasound of the carotid is a diagnostic imaging technique. It is painless and non-invasive. The doctor uses a special ultrasound probe, over a neutral and hypoallergenic medical gel, and passes it across the patient’s neck, on the front. The patient lies on the examination table, with the neck in a stretched position, while the doctor on his right performs this examination.
It serves to assess carotid artery diseases, their appearance and flow in the neck, visualization of different types of plaques and assessment of stenoses. Advances in imaging have made it possible to assess the risk, including the degree of stenosis and how vulnerable the atherosclerotic plaque is to rupture. In addition, imaging may be evaluated for plaque bleeding, plaque ulceration and neovascularization, fibrous cap thickness and the presence of lipid-rich necrotic core. Carotid ultrasound is the preferred initial diagnostic test to evaluate for carotid artery stenosis and can be used to monitor response to lipid-lowering therapy. All this is done in order to prevent a stroke.”
TRANSCRANIAL DOPPLER (TCD)
This is a simple, non-invasive, painless ultrasound method that measures the speed of blood flow through the blood vessels of the brain by measuring the echo of ultrasound waves that move transcranially (inside the skull). The result of this diagnostic method is a spectral analysis of acoustic signals.
POLYSOMNOGRAPHY (PSG)
PSG is a sleep study. It helps to study sleep and serves as a diagnostic tool in sleep medicine. The test result is called a polysomnogram. Polysomnography is carried out during the night. The patient is accompanied by an educated medical professional who monitors every change, and the record is recorded by a computer on a sophisticated machine. Biophysiological changes that occur during sleep are monitored. It is performed at night. PSG monitors brain activity (EEG), eye movements (EOG), muscle activity or skeletal muscle activation (EMG), and heart rhythm (ECG) during sleep. To identify apnea, indicators of breathing, respiratory air flow and respiratory effort are used along with peripheral pulse oximetry.
