History of Neurological Care

For a brief period of time, Dr. Uttam Gaikwad, MCh (Neuro Surgery), who was trained in Neurosurgery at Christian Medical College, Vellore, joined this institution to start the Neurosurgery speciality which earlier was being looked after by the general surgeon.  In 1992 Dr. Mahendra Chitare, MS, MCh (Neurosurgery) joined the MMC.  During that period a separate NeuroSurgery ICU was started and Neuro Surgery was started as a separate speciality.  In 1994 he resigned and left.  In 1994, Dr. Nathaniel Sase finished his superspeciality training in Neurology (DM in Neurology) at Christian Medical College and Hospital, Vellore, and joined this Institution.  Ever since then, the department has seen the growth in leaps and bounds in Neurological care of the patients in and around Miraj.  The speciality equipments like Electro Encephalogram which existed in the Department of Psychiatry was shifted to Department of Neurology.   In 1995, the hospital acquired CT Scanner of its own in the Hospital Premises which helped in rapid diagnosis of the neurological diseases and treatment.  Same year a state-of-art equipment in the form of EMG and NCV studies was added to the Department of Neurology,  which further helped the doctors in this hospital to diagnose and treat peripheral nerve and muscle diseases in better way.  In November 1995 Neurology was separated as a separate unit under Dr. Nathaniel Sase.

The Neurosurgery is an important support area in the hospital especially of neuro-trauma cases and for the treatment of Intra Cranial Space Occupying Legions (ICSOL), AVMs and to operate on aneurisms.  There is no doubt that the success of any neurological case is in the collaborative work of Neurologist and Neurosurgeon and the third arm as the Physical Rehabilitation Specialist.  With Neurosurgeon being available round the clock along with the Neurologist and Rehab Specialist will go a ling way in bringing joy to many who otherwise can be labeled as crippled and left alone.

This is especially to have Neurology and Neurosurgery under one roof with all the equipment related to diagnosis and treatment as need of this area of 200 km radius, where such help is not available and especially in the era of vehicular accidents.  The Government of Maharashtra has recognized the Miraj Medical Centre as Trauma Care Unit of National Highway No. 4 i.e. Pune-Bangalore Highway.

Highlights of Neurology Department

i) Movement Disorders : Injection of Botulinum Toxin for Movement Disorders.  This research was carried out for patients with movement disorders to overcome excessive movements.  Which showed significant improvement in the disability.  The diseases also treated with this were Hemifacial Spasms,  Torsion Dystonia, Writter's Cramps.

ii) Neuro-Aids : This Clinical Study was carried out to find out the profile of Neurological Manifestations with the CD 4 and CD 8 counts.

iii) Peripheral Neuropathy: This study was carried out to find out the Clinical Manifestations and their electro-physiologic studies were done and possible etiological factors were identified.

iv) Young Strokes: This study was carried out to find out the Clinical Manifestations and etiology for young stroke patients.

v) Cortical Venous Thrombosis: Post Partum Cortical Venous Thrombosis is an disease with a highest mortality in a peri-partum period.  Identifying this entity in a peri-partum period and treating them promptly has helped us to reduce maternal mortality in peri-partum period.

vi) Neuro-muscular Diseases: Neuro-Muscular Diseases are been investigated for the pattern of presentation, their relationship to genetics and possible treatment and diagnosis pre-nataly.  Epidemiological studies related to it and education of the population at large is very important, since consanguineous marriages are very common in this part of the country.

Thymectomy has been described quite useful in treating the patients of Myasthenia Gravis.  We have found the early remission (three years) after Thymectomy (research in progress.)

vii) Epilepsy: Multiple Drug trials for treatment of Epilepsy.  Epilepsy Surgery for refractory epilepsy.