Neurosurgery Emergency
What constitutes a neurosurgical emergency?
Neurosurgical emergencies typically constitute head and spinal cord injuries which require management by a neurosurgical team. Other emergencies include diseases which result in bleeding such as subarachnoid heamorrhage, large intraparenchymal heamorrhage, intraventricular bleeding etc. Tumours which cause significant midline shift and/or brain herniation also constitute neurosurgical emergencies.
Whom will I meet when I bring a patient to the emergency?
The neurosurgical casualty is run by a team of doctors. They will evaluate the patient on presentation at the casualty and further steps of management are undertaken after discussion with the team members.
How long will it take for starting treatment in the emergency?
Emergency measures such as airway, breathing and circulation are common to all emergencies and are initiated on presentation at the casualty. The patient is triaged in the casualty. Based on the triage subsequent measures are initiated. Specific measures such as surgery usually require evaluation by some form of imaging such as CT/MRI or DSA and blood investigations.
Can I meet my earlier doctor when I report at the casualty?
The problems of the patient and measures are communicated to the unit doctors and the unit doctors would see the patient at the earliest feasible time. However, necessary treatment measures would be instituted in the casualty on presentation based on the condition of the patient.
I am not sure if it is an emergency, what should I do?
The patient can be shown to a physician who is available closest to your place of residence. He/she can advise you on the severity of the disease.
In the casualty, will I be admitted or referred to another hospital?
All patients presenting to the casualty are evaluated and triaged. Those of the patients who require urgent care are given preference over other patients. Those patients who are not in emergent neurosurgical care or require multispeciality care are referred to other hospitals.
Is there a method by which I can get in touch with a neurosurgeon during an emergency?
A neurosurgical team is available throughout the day at the casualty. All necessary neurosurgical care can be instituted at the casualty. However, specific measures such as ICU care, emergent operative measures can be given based on availability of said facilities at the given point of time.