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Head of Department
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Head of Department
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In addition to the Clinic for Neurosurgery and the Bethel Epilepsy Centre, two large Neurological Clinics make up the EvKB Neuro-Centre. Neurology is concerned with diseases of the central and peripheral nervous system as well as the musculature. At both locations (Johannesstift and Bethel) we have the technical equipment and the personnel to diagnose and treat all neurological illnesses. Efficient laboratories for electrophysiology, liquor examinations, as well as Doppler and Duplex sonography are amongst our specific diagnosis range. These, together with high-quality neuro-radiological and neuro-pathological diagnostics, are preconditions for well-directed treatment. The EvKB is the top neurological health care provider for the region.
Damage to the central nervous system resulting from strokes is diagnosed and treated at our specialised Stroke Units in Bethel and the Johannesstift. Parkinson’s disease and other degenerative diseases of the central nervous system are intensively treated; the same applies to multiple sclerosis and other inflammatory/auto-immune ailments of the brain and spinal cord. Inflammations of the brain and cerebral membrane require neurological diagnosis and, if necessary, intensive medical treatment. Memory loss, attacks of giddiness, disorientation, therapy-resistant headaches, motor disturbances are only some of the many symptoms of disorders of the central nervous system, which we diagnose and treat.
The peripheral nervous system (the vertebral nerves, nerve roots in the spinal column as well as the peripheral nerves of the arms and legs) is affected, for example, with a facial paralysis, a disc pro-lapse or with the so-called carpal tunnel syndrome. Acute and chronic neuropathies (damage to the peripheral nervous system) have many possible causes, some requiring costly specific treatment, e.g., with immunoglobulins or cytostatics or with immuno-adsorption or plasmapheresis (in co-operation with the Dialysis Units). Nerve damage is examined in cooperation with the Neurosurgery and Accident Surgery Departments. The clinic holds highly frequented special surgeries for the botulinum toxin treatment of over active muscular systems, e.g., with tics of the facial muscles or focal spasticity. Ailments of the muscles are part of our treatment spectrum, even the less common ones, such as the neuromuscular disease myasthenia.
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Our Stroke Units
Evangelisches Krankenhaus Bielefeld is a regional Stroke Centre and our Stroke Units at both locations are acknowledged by the state of North Rhine-Westphalia and accredited by the professional bodies. Apart from clinical and scientific co-operation, with comprehensive quality control, we maintain close connections with the German Stroke Support Foundation. The Heads of both Neurology Clinics are active as regional representatives of the Foundation.
Altogether we treat more than 1,000 stroke patients each year. Increasingly successful are lysis therapies when patients arrive in hospital soon after the symptoms begin. Stroke causes are intensively investigated, in addition to classic cerebral infarction, temporary brain circulation disturbances = transitory ischaemic attacks (TIA), haemorrhages, thromboses of arterial and venous cerebral blood vessels and so-called dissections of cervical and cerebral vessels are treated. Some patients receive pre-admission and post-discharge outpatient care in special surgeries, including Doppler sonographic diagnostics. Our stroke treatment is standardised; under the leadership of neurologists, cardiologists and intensive care medicine specialists, (interventional) neuro-radiologists, neurosurgeons, speech therapists and linguists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and, of course, nurses work closely together.
Further focal points, special areas of work and co-operations:
In addition to various circulatory disturbances of the brain, multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s disease are the neurological ailments with which we deal most frequently. The latest therapeutic developments for both illnesses are swiftly and competently put into practice at EvKB. We endeavour to provide comprehensive diagnosis and individually tailored counselling for both established and newly-developed therapy procedures (and prophylaxis with multiple sclerosis).
In close interdisciplinary co-operation with the hospital’s intensive care medicine specialists, we practise in partnership on interdisciplinary intensive care wards and in co-operation with the EvKB Clinic for Anaesthesiology (focal point neuro-anaesthesia).
A further interdisciplinary focal point is neuro-oncology, the treatment of tumours of the nervous system. Through close co-operation with the neurosurgery and oncology departments, the institutes as well as the regional radiotherapists, we can offer a comprehensive treatment concept.
In the treatment of dementia we work closely cooperate with Department of Geronto-Psychiatry and in diagnostics with the Faculty for Psychology at BielefeldUniversity. We treat neurologically-induced language, speech and swallowing disorders in cooperation with the Faculty of Linguistics of Bielefeld University and with the Bielefeld School of Speech Therapy. Particularly with stroke patients and also many neurological intensive care patients, the early detection of swallowing disorders is of great importance.
Profound expertise in sleep medicine has developed over many years in the Department of Sleep Medicine at Johannesstift. Night sleep and the tendency to fall asleep during the day are investigated at the sleep lab; its mobile equipment is also being used on other wards and for outpatient examinations. Within a period of 2 days and nights, a wide variety of disorders can thus be analysed and appropriate therapy instituted.
