NEUROLOGY-NEUROPHYSIOLOGY
Department of Neurology and Clinical Neurophysiology
DEPARTMENT OF NEUROLOGY AND CLINICAL NEUROPHYSIOLOGY
The Department of Neurology and Clinical Neurophysiology laboratory at the Dr. Ziauddin Hospital offers reliable and high-quality healthcare diagnostic services for diseases pertaining to brain, spinal cord, nerves, muscles and neuromuscular junction. The Department of Neurology works in different specialties, all offering outpatient and inpatient services.
Neurology Department
Our highly qualified, trained, specialized and experienced team of doctors, nurses and support staff are experts in treating and managing a vast range of neurological disorders of the nervous system including diseases such as Alzheimer’s and other forms of Dementia, Parkinson’s, Stroke, Epilepsy, Multiple Sclerosis and more.
We offer a comprehensive dedicated Neurophysiology Laboratory which is equipped with most modern state-of-the-art equipment to provide a comprehensive range of Electrodiagnostic services.
Neurology Faculty and Full Time Consultant
Professor Dr. Bashir Ahmed Soomro
FAAN, FCPS (NEUROLOGY), MBBS
Senior Consultant Neurologist, Professor of Neurology
Department of Medicine
Ziauddin Medical College and University Hospital Karachi Pakistan
Secretary General of Pakistan Society of Neurology
Faculty and Secretary to Faculty of Neurology CPSP Karachi Pakistan
Dr. Nadeem A. Memon
MBBS, FCPS (Neurology)
Assistant Professor Neurology
Fellowship in Clinical Neurophysiology (AKUH)
Member American Association of Neuromuscular & Electrodiagnostic Medicine (AANEM)
Consultant Neurologist & Clinical Neurophysiologist
Dr. Shazma Khan
MBBS, FCPS (Neurology)
Fellowship in Movement disorder (Singapore)
Consultant Neurologist
Dr. Zain Ally
MBBS, MD (USA), Neurology
Fellowship in Pediatric Neurology & Neurophysiology
Consultant Pediatric Neurologist
Professor Dr. Ali Hassan
MBBS, FCPS (Neurology), FEBN (Europe)
Fellowship in Neurophysiology (AKUH)
Consultant Neurologist & Clinical Neurophysiologist
Dr. Sulaiman Mohammad
MBBS (AKU), ABPN (USA)
Fellowship in Clinical Neurophysiology (USA)
Consultant Neurologist & Neurophysiologist
Neurology Non-Full Time Consultants
Dr. Inam E. Khuda
MBBS, FCPS (Neurology)
Fellowship in Stroke
Consultant Neurologist
Dr. Muhammad Hassan Shaikh
MBBS, FCPS (Neurology)
Fellowship in Stroke (AKU) & Neurointervention
Consultant Neurologist
Clinical Neurophysiology Department (Brain, spinal cord, nerves and muscles test)
Clinical Neurophysiology Laboratory (CNPL) at Dr. Ziauddin Hospital has most modern state-of-the-art equipment to perform tests that helps in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases pertaining to the brain, spinal cord, nerves, neuromuscular junctions and muscles.
The NP Laboratory is responsible for providing electro-diagnostic services to patients with neurological complaints and diseases affecting the nervous system. The procedures aid in the diagnosis and monitoring of the neurological disease processes, as well as to help ensure that the treatment is working.
Neurophysiology technologists are well qualified, trained and experienced to record and review patient data to make it certain that the information is valid and interpretable. They closely work with the consultant neurologists.
Neurophysiology Faculty & Staff
Mustafa Khan
MSc, ABRET (USA), CNIM (USA), ECNE (UK), ASEPA-ASNA
ISO & JCIA surveyor, Coordinator BS MT Program
Head of Neurophysiology
Neurophysiology Services
- Electroencephalography (EEG)
- Electromyography / Nerve Conduction Studies (EMG / NCS)
- Evoked Potentials (EPs)
- Sleep Studies
- Intra-Operative Monitoring (IOM)
- Botulinum Toxin Therapy
Electroencephalography (EEG) Test for Epilepsy and Neurological Dysfunctions
Electroencephalography (EEG) is a simple painless procedure. It is a technique used to record the electrical activity of the brain by putting some recording sensors on the scalp to help localise lesions, make a diagnosis and in the management of epilepsy and other neurological dysfunctions. The types of EEGs offered include;
- Routine EEG
- Sleep deprived EEG (SDE)
- Long term EEG monitoring (LTM)
- Long term video EEG Monitoring (VEEG)
- Intraoperative Electrocorticography (EChoc)
How to prepare for the test?
- Patient needs to wash his / her hairs and do not use any hair spray, creams or oils on the day of the test.
- Please continue to take the medication as recommended by your doctor.
- Test on children / neonates are usually done in a sleep state. For children over 3 years should be partial sleep deprive so they can fall asleep during the recording or to bring them for the test at a time when the child can take a nap and go to sleep during the recording. You may bring their favorite music or video that can help them to keep quite.
- For infants, please remember to bring feeding bottles (filled), soothers and other items necessary that will help keep your child calm.
Please bring you previous reports and medication list with you, if any.
What the patient will experience during the test?
- The procedure involves applying small gold-plated electrodes on the head using a special contacting paste which can be easily washes out after the test.
- Patient needs to lie on the bed and relax with closed eyes.
- The test will be more informative if patient are able to fall asleep during the test.
Electromyography/Nerve Conduction Studies (EMG/NCS) for Nerve and Muscle Function
Electromyography (EMG) / Nerve Conduction Study (NCS) evaluate the integrity of the peripheral nerves and muscle function.
Nerve conduction studies helps determine the type of nerve disease and its prognosis. Electromyography helps determine if there are any abnormalities in the muscle or the nerves supplies to it.
This examination is very useful for evaluating the symptoms of numbness, tingling, pain, weakness, fatigue, exercise intolerance and muscle cramping.
A qualified and experienced technologist or a qualified doctor performs NCS test. A Neurophysiologist or Neurologist who has had special training examines the recording and prepare report. The types of services offered include;
- Routine Electromyography and Nerve conduction studies (EMG / NCS)
- Repetitive nerve stimulation (RNS)
- Autonomic testing (SSR, RR, Valsalva)
- Single Fiber Electromyography (SFEMG)
How to prepare for the test?
- Wear loosely fitted clothing to allow easy access to upper parts of the arms and legs.
- Do not apply skin lotions on the day of the test.
- It’s very important for the patient to inform the Technologist or doctor prior to the EMG test if you are taking any blood thinners medicine or have had haemophilia.
- Inform the physician or technologist prior to the test if you have a cardiac pacemaker.
- Please bring you previous reports and medication list with you, if any.
What the patient will experience during the test?
- During the electromyography (EMG) examination, the doctor inserts a very fine needle electrode into the muscle to record the electrical activity of the muscle and ask the patient to voluntary activate the muscle for few seconds.
- The type of illness or symptoms patient have will determine how many muscles and nerves need to be tested.
- During Nerve conduction studies, mild electrical pulses are applied to the nerve at different sites along the nerve and the potential response of the nerve is recorded.
The electric pulses cause a brief, mild tingling feeling. There are no side effects from this test.
- Patients with dystonia may be given a Botox Injection to help the muscles relax.
Evoked Potentials (EPs) Test for the Senses
Evoked Potentials tests are specially designed to check the three most important senses: sight, hearing and touch. The brain’s response to the external stimulus received by the eyes, ears and skin are recorded by placing electrodes on the patient’s head, neck and the skin.
- Brain Stem Evoked Potentials (BAEP/BERA) test is done for hearing nerve assessment and the hearing threshold for all types of the patient especially in children.
- Visual Evoked Potentials (VEP) test assess the optic nerve pathways in the brain to see how fast it is taking the message to the brain.
- Somatosensory Evoked Potentials (SSEP) test checks the nerves in the arms and legs and the message conducted to the brain.
Motor Evoked Potential (MEP) test assess the proximal nerve abnormalities and central conduction delay.
How to prepare for the test?
- Patient should wash and clean hair and let it dry before the test. Do not use any hair oil, cream or hair spray.
- Test on children / neonates are usually done in a sleep state. For children over 3 years should be partially sleep deprive so they can fall asleep during the recording or bring them for the test at a time when the child can take a nap and go to sleep during the recording. You may bring their favorite music or video that can help them to keep quite.
For infants, bring feeding bottles (prepared), soothers and other items necessary that will help keep your child calm.
What the patient will experience during the test?
BAEP/BERA: The procedure involves applying few gold-plated electrodes on the head using a special contacting paste which can be easily washes out after the test. A headphone will be put on the ears and patient will hear a click sound. There are no side effects and the patient should feel no pain.
Visual Evoked Potentials (VEP): The procedure involves applying few gold-plated electrodes on the head using a special contacting paste which can be easily washes out after the test. The patient will sit and watch a screen. For children a flashing light will be used. There are no side effects and the patient should feel no pain.
Somatosensory Evoked Potentials (SSEP): The procedure involves applying few gold-plated electrodes on the head using a special contacting paste which can be easily washes out after the test. The test involves placing few electrodes on the patient’s head and arms or legs. Small electric pulses are applied to the nerve at the wrist and / or the ankle. The electric pulses cause a brief, mild tingling feeling. There are no side effects from the test and the patient should feel no pain.
Motor Evoked Potentials (MEP): The procedure involves applying few gold-plated electrodes on the upper and lower limbs using a special contacting paste which can be easily washes out after the test. The test involves placing a magnetic coil on the patient’s head to give a magnetic pulse. The magnetic pulses cause a brief, mild tingling feeling. There are no side effects from the test and the patient should feel no pain.
Sleep Studies (Polysomnography, MSLT, MWT)
Polysomnography, also called a sleep study, is a test used to diagnose many types of sleep disorders. It records your multiple physiological parameters like brain waves, the oxygen saturation level in your blood, heart rate and breathing efforts patterns, as well as eye and leg movements during sleep.
In addition, polysomnography may be used to help adjust your treatment plan if you have already been diagnosed with a sleep disorder like obstructive sleep apnea.
Multiple Sleep Latency Test (MSLT) measures how soon a person falls asleep in a quiet environment, and helps on the diagnosis of sleep disorders including narcolepsy.
Maintenance of Wakefulness Test (MWT) measures how a person can maintain the wakefulness in a quiet environment.
Botulinum Toxin Therapy for Neurological Disorders
Botulinum Toxin Therapy helps in treating the patients with a variety of movement disorders, headache and muscle spasticity.
This therapy is very useful for treating the dystonia, migraine and especially spastic limbs in pediatric patients. A qualified and experienced neurologist usually inject the medicine under EMG guidance.
How to prepare for the test?
- Wear loosely fitted clothing to allow easy access to upper parts of the arms and legs.
- It’s very important for the patient to inform the technologist or doctor prior to the EMG test if you are taking any blood thinners medicine or have had haemophilia.
- Inform the physician or technologist prior to the test if you have a cardiac pacemaker.
- Please bring you previous reports and medication list with you, if any.
What the patient will experience during the test?
- During the therapy, the neurologist injects the medicine by a tuberculin syringe in the selected muscles. Patient will feel a needle prick.
- The type of illness or symptoms patient have will determine how many muscles need to be injected.
How to get an appointment for Neurology Consultant:
Neurology Clinics,
Dr. Ziauddin Hospital, Clifton Campus
Call: 021-111-942-942
Timings: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Mon – Sat)
Neurophysiology Neurology Clinics,
Dr. Ziauddin Hospital, North Campus
Call: 021-111-942-942
Timings: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Mon – Sat)
How to get an appointment for Neurophysiology Diagnostic Services
Neurophysiology Department,
Dr. Ziauddin Hospital, Clifton Campus
Call: 021-111-942-942 – Ext: 4161
Timings: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Mon – Sat)
Neurophysiology Department,
Dr. Ziauddin Hospital, North Campus
Call: 021-111-942-942 – Ext: 6422
Timings: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Mon – Sat)