It was in the year 1973 that a separate unit of Neurology was created in the Department of Medicine. Ten beds from Prof. N. N. Gupta's ward in the Department of Medicine were earmarked for the neurology unit.
A full-fledged separate unit of Neurology housed in a new building came into existence from August 1976 and administrative separation of the new department came in March 1977. Prof. Devika Nag was the first Head of Department (1977-1998). Subsequent Heads were Prof. A.M. Kar and Prof. Atul Agarwal. Presently, Prof. R. K. Garg heads the department.
Under his able guidance the department is developing leaps and bounds. Postgraduate (DM) course in this superspeciality was started in the year 1981. More than 100 postgraduates have been awarded the degree of DM (Neurology) so far. At present there are 08 MCI recognized seats annually for the same.
Facilities:
The department is the first integrated department of neuromedicine in this state and provides the major reception to neurological disorders of all types in the region. It has 74 beds including 10 emergency beds and 4 neurocritical care beds
A full-fledged electrophysiology unit provides 16 Channel EEG and 21 Channel Video EEG. Charge for EEG is Rs. 440/- and Video EEG is Rs. 800/-.
A full-fledged electrophysiology unit provides 16 Channel EEG and 21 Channel Video EEG. Charge for EEG is Rs. 440/- and Video EEG is Rs. 800/-.3. Nihon Koden Neuropack X1 MEB-2300EMG & EP systems-6 Channel providing investigations: Motor NCS, Sensory NCS, F Wave, H Reflex, Needle EMG, RNST, CTS, Blink Reflex, SSR, Evoked potentialsand Transcranial Doppler Ultrasound (TCD). Charges for EMG/ NCV is Rs. 330/-, Rs. 330/- and for TCD is Rs. 400/-.
Neuroequillibrium video-oculography providing investigations to evaluate patients with balance/gait problems and nystagmus.
Fully equipped physiotherapy and speech therapy units were established for outdoor and indoor patients. This facility is provided free of cost.
Emergency:
24 x 7, 365 days Dedicated Neurology Emergency and Neurology ICU services.
On average 30-50 admissions/ week in addition to 20-30 patients seen daily in the emergency
4 Senior resident (DM Neurology resident) on duty round the clock under guidance of faculty.
All modern advanced facilities like Pacing, ABG, invasive and non-invasive modes of monitoring(connected to a central console) available.
Neuro-critical care:
A dedicated 4 bedded neuro-critical care unit was started in May 2022 with 2 Senior resident (DM Neurology resident) on duty round the clock under guidance of faculty to provide intensive care to common neurological disorders like strokes, ruptured aneurysms, brain and spinal cord injury from trauma, status epilepticus, infections of the brain (encephalitis) and the brain's or spine's meninges (meningitis) and weakness of the muscles required to breathe (such as the diaphragm)
All modern advanced facilities like Pacing, ABG, ventilators and monitoring(connected to a central console) available
Physiotherapy:
A fully functioned physiotherapy unit is attached with the department. The above unit provides comprehensive physical Rehab to Indoor as well as outdoor patients. Patho-kinesiological assessments of motor functions, exercise guidance and mobilization of patients with help of modern & latest gadgets. More than two thousand patients are treated successfully free of cost annually. These include indoor as well as outdoor patients. Internship is conducted for students who have successfully cleared then graduate physiotherapy courses.
Speech Therapy:
A fully functioned Speech Therapy unit is attached with the department. Speech & language therapy aims to provide high quality service to help children & adult with speech, language, voice and fluency difficulties. Diagnostic speech & language assessment for indoor & outdoor patients are carried out & results analyzed to design age appropriate therapy programs. Vocal Hygiene program for teachers, singers or professional users of voice. Home training programs are given to outstation patients. Therapy session is conducted either in groups or on an individual basis. Over 600 patients are treated annually free of cost. These include outdoor as well as indoor patients. Assistance in research as well as combined publication of articles and case presentations related to speech, language & voice therapy.
Botulium Toxin Clinic:
Regular session of Botulinum Toxin in Movement Disorders and spasticity are held once in every three weeks. Here patients of Blepharospasm, Hemifacial spasm, writer's cramp, post stroke spasticity and other spastic disorders are injected Botulinum Toxin. On an average 25-30 patients are benefited from this facility every month.
OPD and IPD:
New OPD block with computerized facilities and centralized air conditioning is according to need of hour. Daily OPD running successfully with more than 1,47,471 patients attended in 2019. Similarly, more than 2600 patients were admitted in ward during 2017. Free breakfast and meals are being provided to admitted patients according to institutional policy.
During the pandemic for the ease & benefit of patientsteleconsultation was started and later being continued as Digital OPD (video consultation) via e-sanjeevani till date.
Stroke, Neuromuscular disorder, Dementia, Epilepsy, Headache & Neuro-infection clinics have come into effect from this year.
NEUROLOGY EMERGENCY:
10 bedded neurology emergency ward is operational within the Trauma centre building dedicated for neurological emergencies like Acute stroke, Status epilepticus, Thunderclap headache, Guillain-Barre syndrome & also providing thrombolytic therapy for acute ischemic stroke presenting within window period.
TROPICON 2018:
A 2 day National Level conference on Tropical Neurology under the aegis of Indian Academy of Neurology was successfully conducted in March 2018. Around 25 speakers from different parts of the country came to share their experience, research and knowledge. More than 350 delegates attended this conference.
