Impulse Monitoring Neurophysiologist Introduces Intraoperative Neuromonitoring To Pakistan

Main Category: Neurology / Neuroscience
Also Included In: Medical Devices / Diagnostics
Article Date: 08 Feb 2009 - 0:00 PDT

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"Patient safety and improved outcomes are top of mind objectives for IMI, so one of the most important things we can do is to share our methodologies and technology whenever and wherever possible and practical. This was the case with Faisal Jahangiri's recent trip to Pakistan where he introduced intraoperative neuromonitoring at medical centers in four cities," said Impulse Monitoring CEO, Gene Cattarina. Faisal Jahangiri is a senior neurophysiologist with Impulse Monitoring, Inc. (IMI), a leading provider of intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring (IONM) services to hospitals. IONM assesses neurological function involving the brain, spinal cord and related nerve structures during surgery. Use of IONM facilitates the surgical process and can reduce surgical risk by providing alerts to surgeons of potential harm to spinal cord or neural structure.

Jahangiri, who is employed by IMI, visited Pakistan at the invitation of the Government of Pakistan to tour several medical centers and hospitals across the country with the objectives to both monitor several high-risk surgeries, as well as deliver education sessions on IONM. "My tour included visits to four major cities, Rawalpindi, Peshawar, Abbottabad and the capitol city of Islamabad. During my visit, I delivered multiple lectures on Advances in Surgeries: Intraoperative Neurophysiological Monitoring During High Risk Surgeries, all of which were highly attended and appreciated. There is a great thirst and need for medical knowledge in Pakistan and other developing nations, particularly for techniques that can mitigate damage from high risk surgeries," said Jahangiri.

"During his short stay in Pakistan, Jahangiri demonstrated some of the most advanced and exceptional skills in the field of intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring," said Malik Imad Khan, MBBS, MPH, Member Management & Assistant Medical Director, Shifa International Hospitals, Islamabad, Pakistan. "Faisal's expertise was extremely helpful in some of the most difficult neurosurgical and orthopedics procedures. Our patients and the Consultants, gained a lot from this new specialized field."

"I would have to say, though, that the high point of my visit was monitoring surgeries for three charity patients in two different hospitals. One of those surgeries involved the untethering of the spinal cord. This was the first time this surgery was performed in Pakistan with the support of IONM, and I am pleased to report that the outcome was entirely successful," added Jahangiri. The other two surgeries involved extremely complicated scoliosis procedures.

"After this case, we realized that intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring is not a luxury, but is a necessity," said Dr. Muhammed Nadeen, MBBS, FCPS, Associate Consultant Neurosurgeons, Shifa International Hospitals.

"Education is one of the key areas where IMI can make a major contribution, as evidenced by Faisal's trip. It is an area where we have both the willingness and ability to share our expertise, and we expect to continue to do so," Cattarina added.

About Impulse Monitoring

Impulse Monitoring, Inc. (IMI) provides monitoring and support services to hospitals and other facilities that include intraoperative neuromonitoring (IONM) for spinal, nerve and brain-related surgeries, and Autotransfusion (AT). IONM allows early detection of neurological compromise and identification of functional neural structures during surgery. The scope of IMI's IONM service includes neurophysiologists who provide monitoring in the operating room, supported by dedicated real-time, remote physician monitoring. IMI's AT service uses state-of-the-art equipment to capture and cleanse a patient's own blood during surgery, making it available for transfusion instead of donated blood.

Impulse Monitoring, Inc.

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