To schedule an appointment:
01-633 0679
01-633 0681
989 088 541
Neurosurgery
Endovascular Neurosurgery
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
Gynecology and Obstetrics
Radiology
Anesthesiology
Ophthalmology
Traumatology and Orthopedics
Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery
Psychology
Dentistry
Physical Rehabilitation
General and Bariatric Surgery
Urology
Emergencies
Intensive Care Unit
Diagnostic imaging
Resonance
Tomography
Clinical Laboratory
Pharmacy
Hyperbaric Medicine
Emergency
Specialties
NORMAL PRESSURE HYDROCEPHALUS
What is normal pressure hydrocephalus?
Normal pressure hydrocephalus is an abnormal increase in cerebrospinal fluid in the ventricles, or cavities, of the brain. It occurs when the normal flow of cerebrospinal fluid between the brain and spinal cord is blocked in some way. This causes the ventricles to enlarge and increases pressure on the brain. Normal pressure hydrocephalus can occur in people of any age but almost always affects the elderly. It may result from subarachnoid hemorrhage, traumatic head injury, infection, tumor, or complications of surgery. However, many people have normal pressure hydrocephalus even without any of these factors. In these cases, the cause of the disorder is unknown. Symptoms of normal pressure hydrocephalus include progressive mental decline and dementia, problems walking, and loss of bladder control, leading to frequent urination or incontinence. The person may also experience a general slowing of movement or complain of feeling their feet "locked." Because these symptoms mimic those of other diseases, such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, or Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, the disorder is often misdiagnosed. Many cases go unrecognized and never receive appropriate treatment. Doctors may use several tests, including brain imaging (CT or MRI), a lumbar puncture, intracranial pressure measurement, and neuropsychological testing, to help diagnose normal-pressure hydrocephalus and rule out other problems. In September 2005, an international scientific team developed clinical guidelines to help doctors diagnose normal-pressure hydrocephalus. The guidelines were published as a supplement to the journal Neurosurgery ("Diagnosing Idiopathic Normal-pressure Hydrocephalus," Vol. 57(3), Supplement: S2-4--S2-16, 2005).
Source: http://espanol.ninds.nih.gov/trastornos/hidrocefalia_de_presion_normal.htm
BRAIN ANEURYSMS
What is a brain aneurysm?
A brain aneurysm (also known as an intracranial or intracerebral aneurysm) is a weak or thin spot in a brain blood vessel that bulges like a balloon and fills with blood. The bulging aneurysm can put pressure on a nerve or surrounding brain tissue. They can also leak or rupture, spilling blood into the surrounding tissue (called hemorrhage). Some brain aneurysms, particularly very small ones, do not bleed or cause other problems. Brain aneurysms can occur anywhere in the brain, but most are located along the loop of arteries that run between the bottom of the brain and the base of the skull.
What causes a brain aneurysm?
Most brain aneurysms are congenital, due to an inborn abnormality of an arterial wall. Brain aneurysms are more common in people with certain genetic diseases, such as connective tissue disorders and polycystic kidney disease, and certain circulatory disorders, such as arteriovenous malformations.*
Other causes include head trauma or injury, high blood pressure, infection, tumors, atherosclerosis (a blood vessel disease where fat builds up inside the artery walls) and other vascular system diseases, cigarette smoking, and drug abuse. Some researchers have speculated that oral contraceptives may increase the risk of developing aneurysms.
Aneurysms resulting from an infection in the arterial wall are called mycotic aneurysms. Cancer-related aneurysms are often associated with primary or metastatic tumors of the head and neck. Drug abuse, particularly habitual cocaine use, can inflame blood vessels and lead to the development of brain aneurysms.
*A congenital malformation where a tangle of cerebral arteries and veins interrupts blood flow.
Source: http://espanol.ninds.nih.gov/trastornos/Aneurismas_Cerebrales.htm
Hyperbaric Medicine
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy involves breathing pure oxygen in a pressurized environment. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is well-established as a treatment for decompression sickness, a risk associated with diving. Other conditions that can be treated with hyperbaric oxygen therapy include serious infections, air bubbles in blood vessels, and non-healing wounds caused by diabetes or radiation injuries.
In a hyperbaric oxygen therapy chamber, the pressure is raised two to three times higher than normal air pressure. Under these conditions, the lungs can hold much more oxygen than would be possible by breathing pure oxygen at normal air pressure.
When the blood carries this additional amount of oxygen throughout the body, it helps fight bacteria and stimulates the release of substances called "growth factors" and "stem cells," which promote healing.
