Neurology Commons^™

Stroke Care In Pakistan, Anjum Farooq, Narayanaswamy Venketasubramanian, Mohammad Wasay

Section of Neurology

Increasing incidence of stroke and lack of infrastructure in both urban and rural areas needs immediate attention in Pakistan. There is a high proportion of young stroke with poor stroke outcomes. Acute stroke care is scarce in Pakistan due to the small number of neurologists (1 neurologist per 1 million population), few stroke units, and limited availability of alteplase (recombinant tissue plasminogen activator) in the country.

Frequency Of Early Postoperative Adverse Events (Aes) In Adult Patients Undergoing Elective Neurosurgical Intervention At Tertiary Care Center In Pakistan, Mansoor Chandio, Faraz Shafiq, Ather Enam

Department of Anaesthesia

Objective: The postoperative period is critical in neurosurgical patients, where the incidence of postoperative AEs is significantly high. Most of events occurs during recovery phase and has got relation to anaesthetic management. The objective of study was to determine frequency of early AEs in elective neurosurgical patients.
Methods: This cross sectional study was conducted at our tertiary care center. The duration of study was one year, from August 2017-July 2018. The data was collected using predesigned proforma. The assessment was done on arrival in recovery room (T1) and then at forty five minutes (T2), twenty-fourth hour (T3) and forty-eighth hour …

Anaesthetic Management Of Patients Undergoing Deep Brain Simulation: A Retrospective Review Of 8 Cases From A Tertiary Care Center Of Pakistan, Usama Ahmed, Faraz Shafiq, Dileep Kumar, Khalid Ahsan, Waleed Bin Ghaffar, Muhammad Ehsan Bari

Department of Anaesthesia

Objectives: To review anaesthesia related outcome, perioperative complications and overall length of stay (LOS) in hospital for patients who had deep brain stimulation (DBS).
Methods: The study was retrospective review of patients medical records diagnosed with Parkinson disease (PD) and underwent DBS at The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi from 2017-2019. Data was reviewed from file notes and patient chart and recorded on predesigned Performa. Frequency and percentages were used to present the data.
Results: All patients were anaesthetized using Sleep-Awake-Sleep technique (SAS). Dexmedetomidine was mainly used for conscious sedation. Bispectral index monitor (BIS) was used to monitor the depth …

Prevalence Of Paternal Postpartum Depression, Aisha Noorullah, Zehra Mohsin, Taliha Munir, Rida Nasir, Misbah Malik

Pakistan Journal of Neurological Sciences (PJNS)

Background: Postpartum Depression is a type of mood disorder associated with childbirth, which can occur in both parents. It is a major public health concern because it produces insidious effects on the well-being of new born as well as on the whole family. Objective: This study aims to determine the prevalence of postpartum depression among fathers in Karachi, Pakistan. Methods: This cross sectional survey was conducted among fathers, purposive convenient and snowball sampling was used to approach 120 participants after obtaining permission from Al-Khidmat Hospital and Combined Military Hospital (CMH).Participants were aged between 20-50 years, had a newly born child …

Current Management Of Glioma In Pakistan, Umme E Hani Abdullah, Altaf Ali Laghari, Muhammad Usman Khalid, Huzaifa Bin Rashid, Fatima Ali, Adnan Jabbar, Asim Hafiz, Muhammad Shahzad Shamim, Ather Enam

Section of Neurosurgery

To date, information on the management of specific neurosurgical tumors, such as glioma, in Pakistan remains scattered and scarce. Our review synthesizes the predicaments of glioma management routinely presented to the neurosurgery, medical oncology, radiation oncology, and radiology departments in Pakistan. Expert opinions were integrated from each of the relevant fields in the form of personal citations. The data presented in our review were collected from various PubMed and non-PubMed indexed articles, coupled with various health reports from the Government of Pakistan along with the World Health Organization. Through these data, it was postulated that the utilization of innovative and …

A New Health Care Model For Pakistan, Mohammad Wasay, Ashar Malik

Section of Neurology

No abstract provided.

Retracted: The Epidemiology Of Stroke In A Developing Country (Pakistan), M Ishaq Khan, Junaid I. Khan, Sheikh I. Ahmed, Sajjad Ali

Pakistan Journal of Neurological Sciences (PJNS)

Retraction Notice

Khan MI, Khan JI, Ahmed SI, Ali S. The epidemiology of stroke in a developing country (Pakistan).

Pak J Neurol Sci. 2018;13(3):30-44.

A reader brought to our attention that the article titled “The epidemiology of stroke in a developing country (Pakistan)”, published in Volume 13, Issue 3, of Pakistan Journal of Neurological Sciences (PJNS) was a redundant (duplicate) publication. We investigated this complaint and found out that prior to its submission to PJNS on February 11 2018, this article had already been published almost verbatim in Journal of Neurology & Stroke on January 23, 2018.

Reference of the …

Follow-Up Bibliometric Analysis Of Neurosurgical Publications From Pakistan And Institutional Comparison With Other Countries Using H-Index And I-10 Index, Muhammad Waqas Saeed Baqai, Usman Tariq Siddique, Muhammad Shahzad Shamim

Section of Neurosurgery

Aim: The aim of the study was to analyze the neurosurgical research output of Pakistan and compare it with that of developed countries.
Methodology: We conducted a bibliometric analysis of publically available databases for all neurosurgical publications from Pakistan. All indexed peer-reviewed publications from January 2009 to December 2014 where at least one author was affiliated with any neurosurgical departments in Pakistan and research was conducted in Pakistan were selected. Manual and electronic search was done using MeSH terms to search for articles from Pakistan. Articles were then categorized according to design, subspecialty, region, and year.
Results: Our search identified …

Descriptive Epidemiology Of Karachi Road Traffic Crash Mortality In 2015, Rashid Jooma, Masood Ali Shaikh

Section of Neurosurgery

The Karachi city's Road Traffic Injury Research and Prevention Center (RTIRPC), collects Road Traffic Crash (RTC) data on injuries and fatalities from three major public and private hospitals' emergency departments. In the year 2015, 1021 deaths were recorded; with 871 (85.3%) deaths in males. Cumulatively, 286 (28.0%) deaths were recorded in the 21-30year age group, and for 198 (19.4%) RTC fatal victims, the primary vehicle involved was motorbike. Highest number of fatalities were recorded in the month of January i.e. 153 (15.0%), while the lowest number was recorded for June, with 47 (4.6%) fatalities. RTIRPC is a unique surveillance system …

Spatial Distribution Of Road Traffic Crash Fatalities In Karachi: Perspective From 2008-2012, Rashid Jooma, Mir Shabbar Ali, Masood Ali Shaikh

Section of Neurosurgery

Road Traffic Crash (RTC) mortality and morbidity is one of the major public health problems in Karachi. In this study we used geographic information systems (GIS) to visualize and quantify the spatial distribution of RTC mortality and yearly trend from 2008 to 2012, for all 24 administrative subdivisions of Karachi, using Road Traffic Injury Research and Prevention Center's (RTIRPC) data. Cumulatively, 6040 deaths were recorded by RTIRPC, out of which we were able to map 4657 (77.1%) deaths based on location information available in the database. During the 5-year period, highest number of cumulative RTC fatalities were recorded for Kemari, …

Dementia Survey Among Attendees Of A Dementia Awareness Event In Karachi, Pakistan, Qurat Ul Ain Khan, Yusra Hanif Khan, Mohammad Zaman Khan, Shireen Najam

Pakistan Journal of Neurological Sciences (PJNS)

There is little information available about peoples'knowledgeregarding symptoms of dementia, dementia diagnosis, and care arrangementsfor dementia patients in Pakistan. Aims: We aimed to find out if patients with dementia and their caregivers were aware of diagnosis, the most common and most distressing symptoms, and care arrangement for these patients.

Primary Headache Disorders In The Adult General Population Of Pakistan – A Cross Sectional Nationwide Prevalence Survey, Herekar Aa, Ahmad A, Uqaili Ul, Ahmed B, Effendi J, Alvi Sz, Shahab Ma, Javed U, Herekar Ad, Khanani R, Steiner Tj

Section of Neurology

Back Ground: The large geographical gaps in our knowledge of the prevalence and burden of headache disorders include almost all of Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR). We report a nationwide population-based study in Pakistan, an EMR country with the sixth largest population in the world, conducted as a project within the Global Campaign against Headache.

Methods: We surveyed six locations from the four provinces of Pakistan: Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Baluchistan. We randomly selected and visited rural and urban households in each. One adult member (18-65 years) of each household, also randomly selected, was interviewed by a trained non-medical interviewer …

Designing The First Ever Health Insurance For The Poor In Pakistan–A Pilot Project, Rashid Jooma, Sabeena Jalal

Rashid Jooma

Abstract Several developing countries lack a medical insurance system with universal coverage, so access to medical services is not easy, principally for people living in poverty. One of the biggest issues for designing healthcare systems in developing countries is how to include those not formally employed. Therefore, it is important to implement targeted interventions so that the most in need are not left out. The World Health Report 2000 distinguishes four functions for the health system to fulfill: (i) the provision of health services; (ii) the creation of the necessary investment and training resources for health; (iii) health financing; and …

Cost-Effective Practice Of Neurology: An Idea Whose Time Has Come, Rashid Jooma

Rashid Jooma

Pakistanis spent $ 7.2 billion on healthcare in 2013 (3.1% of our Gross Domestic Product), representing a per capita expenditure of $ 39.4. The government contribution to this was no more than 31.4% ($ 12.4 per capita). The public allocations to health thus represent a paltry 4.7% of total government expenditure and are just shy of 1% of our GDP.

Adaptation Of The Recent Life Changes Questionnaire (Rlcq) To Measure Stressful Life Events In Adults Residing In An Urban Megapolis In Pakistan, Azmina Artani, Shireen Shehzad, Iqbal Azam Syed, Moiz Abdul Sultan, Adeel Khoja, Ayeesha Kamran Kamal

Section of Neurology

Background: Contextually relevant stressful life events are integral to the quantification of stress. None such measures have been adapted for the Pakistani population.

Methods: The RLCQ developed by Richard Rahe measures stress of an individual through recording the experience of life changing events. We used qualitative methodology in order to identify contextually relevant stressors in an open ended format, using serial in-depth interviews until thematic saturation of reported stressful life events was achieved. In our next phase of adaptation, our objective was to scale each item on the questionnaire, so as to weigh each of these identified events, in terms …

Recent Advances In Epilepsy, Mughis Sheerani

Pakistan Journal of Neurological Sciences (PJNS)

Listening to Dr Sarosh Irani in a recent Epilepsy conference about Fascio Brachial dystonic seizures associated with voltage gated potassium channel (VGKC complex/LG1 antibodies)(1) and then reading reports published in Neurology about continued recent use of trephination ‘expelling the demons’ in India(2), I was wondering how far we are in Southeast Asia in the understanding and treatment of this fascinating illness.

Neurorobotics In Pakistan, Ather Enam, Muhammad Waqas

Section of Neurosurgery

No abstract provided.

Epidemiology And Prevalence Of Deep Venous Thrombosis In Patients With Spinal Cord Injury, Aatik Arsh, Haider Darain, Syed Muhammad Ilyas

Pakistan Journal of Neurological Sciences (PJNS)

Pressure ulcers in patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) are associated with incredible financial cost and human sufferings. The aim of this retrospective study was to determine prevalence of pressure ulcers amongst patients with different levels of SCI.

Neurological Health Profile In Pakistan – A Health Systems Based Needs Assessment, Tauhid Awan, Arsalan Ahmad, Ather Javed, Mohammad Wasay, Muhammad Babar Khan, Haroon Awan

Pakistan Journal of Neurological Sciences (PJNS)

The aims of our study were to develop a neurological health profile in Pakistan from a health systems perspective, ascertain the readiness of neurology with regards to Sustainable Development Goals, and proffer recommendations for policy advocacy and planning in neurology.

Long-Tunneled Versus Short-Tunneled External Ventricular Drainage: Prospective Experience From A Developing Country, Muhammad Zubair Tahir, Zain A. Sobani, Muhammed Murtaza, Ather Enam

Section of Neurosurgery

Background: External ventricular drains (EVD) are commonly utilized for temporary diversion of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Many neurosurgeons prefer long-tunneled EVDs in their routine practice. However, it is still unclear whether this extended tunneling helps in reducing CSF infection. Keeping this in mind, we decided to compare infection rates in long-tunneled versus short-tunneled EVDs in the setting of a developing country.
Materials and methods: A prospective study of 60 patients was conducted. Consenting patients who underwent short-tunneled (Group A) or long-tunneled (Group B) EVDs between January 2008 and June 2009 were followed during the course of their inpatient care. All operational …

Present And Future Of Neurology In Pakistan, Mohammad Wasay

Pakistan Journal of Neurological Sciences (PJNS)

Neurology started as a department in early nineteen sixties in Dow Medical College and King Edward Medical College and initially having a separate department of neurology was not mandated in medical colleges by Pakistan Medical and Dental Council¹. Some neurology training programs do not give exposure to subspecialties and training is focused on adult neurology². From 2015 to 2016, several conferences were held on neurology including an Annual Meeting in Quetta, movement disorder conference in Lahore.

Factors Influencing Antiepileptic Drug Non-Compliance In Epileptic Patients Of Pakistan, Safia Bano, Ahsan Numanb

Pakistan Journal of Neurological Sciences (PJNS)

Failure to comply with drug regimes is prevalent amongst patients with epilepsy and the consequence of this is often an increased risk of further seizures and other associated harms including increased health care costs. Contributing factors leading to non-compliance of anti-epileptic drugs has not been examined in Pakistan. We investigated the factors influencing non-compliance to prescribed antiepileptic drugs (AEDs). A cross-sectional study was employed for a total of 53 epileptic patients with non-compliance of anti-epileptic drugs. The data-collection tools were a questionnaire and structured interview for this study. Results showed that males were more liable to non-compliance of AEDs as …

Depression And Anxiety: A Snapshot Of The Situation In Pakistan, Bilaal Ahmed, Syed Faaiz Enam, Zafar Iqbal, Ghulam Murtaza, Shahid Bashir

Medical College Documents

Background: Depression is a great cause of morbidity around the world. Not one person seems to escape the hollow dread that the disease can bring forth.
Aims: Although living in a large extended family which serves as a social support is common in Pakistan, why we still suffer from anxiety and depression just as often if not more than those in other countries?
Method: We checked studies conducted in different localities of Pakistan over the past 10 years to find prevalence values of anxiety and depression. Results: The values of anxiety and depression ranging from 22% to as high as …

Neurocutanoussarcoidosis: A Rare Entity, Muslim Ali Lakhiar, Manzoor Lakhiar, Abdul Hafeez Bughio

Pakistan Journal of Neurological Sciences (PJNS)

Neurosarcoidosis is a granulomatous disorder considered to be a great imitator. We report a case of young lady who presented with gradual onset flexed posturing of fingers of left hand for four years, followed by similar pattern of weakness involving the right hand for three years along with slipping of slippers for one year. Neurologic examination showed distal wasting & weakness in upper limbs with normal jerks and sensory impairment in gloves and stocking distribution. On skin examination there were hypopigmented macules over face, neck and back. Electro diagnostic studies showed sensory motor axonal polyneuropathy, while skin biopsy reported as …

Mental Health Is Not A Luxury In Pakistan, Salma Kerai

Pakistan Journal of Neurological Sciences (PJNS)

A day with a fever is taken serious enough to get off from work in contrast to a day with emotional distress. World health organization defines health as a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. However, mental health is not seen as an integral part of overall well-being in many cultures.

Comparison Of Oxybutynin And Tolterodine In Treatment Of Detrusor Overactivity Associated With Upper Motor Neuron Lesions, Based On Changes In Urodynamic Parameters, Sumeera Matee, Mahmood Ahmad, Muhammad Farooq Farooq, Saeed Bin Ayaz, Noreen Akhtar

Pakistan Journal of Neurological Sciences (PJNS)

To compare efficacy of oxybutynin and tolterodine in managing Detrusor Overactivity (DO) in Pakistani patients with different upper motor neuron lesions. Methods: A randomized controlled trial was carried out at Armed Forces Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine, Rawalpindi from January to August 2015 including individuals with a diagnosis of DO as a result of upper motor neuron lesions. Maximal detrusor pressure (MDP) and maximal cystometric capacity (MCC) were measured at baseline and at four months post-treatment. Group-A was treated with tolterodine and group-B with oxybutynin. Results: A total of 60 individuals (mean age: 43.9 ± 15 years) were included. Majority (83.3%) …

Plagiarism Penalties, Mohammad Wasay, Anwar Siddiqui

Pakistan Journal of Neurological Sciences (PJNS)

Research in all areas of sciences and humanities has led to the creation of a highly competitive environment which necessitates reporting of ideas, and discoveries at rapid pace. The emergence of new technologies of communication has significantly enhanced the capabilities of individuals to record and transcribe data at high speed. Even though, one can accumulate information in a fraction of time, but quite often the creative skills and ability to write one‘s own original thoughts do not match the required level of output. Writing ideas in one’s own words is not always easy and at times it becomes quite challenging …

Deadly Heat Wave In Karachi, July 2015: Negligence Or Mismanagement?, Adnan Salim, A. Ahmed, N. Ashraf, M. Asher

Section of Neurosurgery

No abstract provided.

Epilepsy In Pakistan: National Guidelines For Clinicians (Part 2), Fowzia Siddiqui, Shaukat Ali, Mughis Sheerani, Tipu Sultan, Shahid Mustafa, Saleem Barech, Haris Majid, Sarwar Jamil Siddiqui, Abdul Malik, Mohsin Zaheer, Wasim Akhter, Rashid Jooma

Section of Neurology

No abstract provided.

Epilepsy In Pakistan: National Guidelines For Clinicians, Fowzia Siddiqui, Tipu Sultan, Shahid Mustafa, Sarwar Jamil Siddiqui, Shaukat Ali, Abdul Malik, Zafar Sajjad, Saleem Barech, Rashid Jooma

Section of Neurology

Introduction: Epilepsy is one of the most common chronic neurological disorders requiring prolonged treatments and drugs. According to The World Health Organization (WHO), epilepsy is one of those serious brain disorders that affect not only the individual but has a deep impact on the family and society in general. Approximately 50 million people are affected with epilepsy around the world36, though proper epidemiological studies do not exist for Pakistan it is estimated that the prevalence of epilepsy is 9.99/1000. Highest prevalence is seen in people younger than 30 years of age, i.e. about 2 million people and 1/10th of the …