‘Heart and Brain’ Neurology clinic demonstrated high European level at the Congress of the European Academy of Neurology in Helsinki
The Heart and Brain Neurology Clinic team, led by Prof. Plamen Bozhinov, MD, presented the outstanding success of non-invasive brain stimulation in stroke patients at the 10th Congress of the European Academy of Neurology (EAN). The event took place in the capital of Finland from 29 June to 2 July 2024. As one of the pioneers in the field of therapeutic neurophysiology in the country, Prof. Bozhinov and his team demonstrated the results of applying the method in their clinical practice.
“I am extremely proud of the results achieved in Pleven. Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) is indispensable in the early rehabilitation of patients who have suffered strokes, in the treatment of various pain syndromes, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, neuro-psychiatric development disorders in autism spectrum disorders, etc.,” says Prof. Bozhinov. It is no coincidence that the main topic of the congress was non-invasive brain stimulation in various neurological diseases. Modern neurological science is increasingly moving towards the use of various devices for such stimulation. This does not contradict drug therapy, but in most cases complements it. In pTMS we direct repetitive magnetic pulses at specific intervals to specific areas of the brain. These pulses reach brain cells, stimulate them and improve communication between different parts of the brain. Our experience in applying this therapeutic method includes monitoring more than 1,500 patients with a wide range of neurological and psychiatric diseases, including about 200 stroke patients,” adds Prof. Bozhinov.
During the congress, Dr. Stoyan Bozhinov, a neurology resident, presented results of EEG follow-up of the effect of rTMS in early rehabilitation of patients who have had strokes, and Polya Lambeva, a master’s student in medical rehabilitation and occupational therapy, presented the experience of the nervous diseases clinic related to the effect of non-invasive brain stimulation in patients with Parkinson’s disease.
The attention of the audience was also drawn to EEG (electroencephalographic) monitoring of patients with impaired consciousness in the ICU or intensive care unit setting. Great progress has been made in this area, with strictly defined EEG markers concerning good or poor clinical prognosis being identified.
“In , Heart and Brain’ EEG monitoring of patients with disorders of consciousness has been routinely used in clinical practice for about 3 years. Together with Dr. Vladislav Genov, Head of the Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care, we have a great deal of clinical experience involving the monitoring of comatose patients of various backgrounds. Also of interest are the reports on the treatment of neurological diseases during pregnancy, the administration of different types of medications in pregnant women with epilepsy, and the management of possible complications of eclampsia (seizures). Together with the team of Assoc. Yordan Popov, Head of the Clinic of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at ‘Heart and Brain’, we have unique for our country practical experience in the follow-up and treatment of pregnant women with all neurological diseases”, summarized prof. Bozhinov.
“The European Academy of Neurology gives the continent’s leading specialists the opportunity to ‘check their watches’ with all the latest advances in neurological science and practice. In this way, we can be of maximum use to our patients and our colleagues in solving complex and difficult to diagnose and treat clinical cases, bordering between different medical specialties,” the neurologists concluded.
