Department of Neurology and Epileptology - Asklepios Hospital Barmbek Hamburg

About the Department of Neurology and Epileptology at Asklepios Hospital Barmbek Hamburg

The Department of Neurology and Epileptology at the Asklepios Hospital Barmbek Hamburg offers the full range of medical services in the areas of its specialization. The medical facility diagnoses and treats diseases of the brain, spinal cord, peripheral nerves, and muscles. The department also provides round-the-clock care for patients with urgent neurological conditions. Stroke patients are treated in a specialized Stroke Unit certified in accordance with the requirements of the German Stroke Foundation and the German Stroke Society. The department houses a laboratory for ultrasound scanning of the cerebral vessels and a laboratory for clinical neurophysiologic diagnostics. Among the primary focuses of the department's clinical practice is the treatment of Parkinson's disease and myasthenia gravis. The outstanding achievements of the department in these areas are confirmed by prestigious quality certificates. A particular focus of the department's neurologists is on epilepsy treatment. Multimodal pain management is also offered here for patients with chronic pain. The department's doctors have in their arsenal all modern methods of conservative therapy, providing the best results. Doctors from related medical fields may be involved in the therapeutic process, if necessary. The goal of neurologists is to normalize the state of the nervous system, thus providing patients with a high quality of life. The department is headed by Prof. Dr. med. Peter Paul Urban.

The department has vast experience in providing care to patients with stroke, one of the most common and life-threatening neurological pathologies. Stroke patients are treated in a specialized Stroke Unit with 10 beds. Each bed is equipped with a monitor, which continuously transmits the patient's vital signs, such as blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, blood oxygen levels, body temperature, etc. All monitors are connected to a central monitoring system, which is carefully supervised by responsible doctors. The Stroke Unit is also equipped with CT and MRI scanners for urgent examination of the patient's brain. The specialists most often deal with ischemic stroke, which provokes a cerebral circulation disorder with damage to the brain tissue and impaired brain function. The most effective treatment method for ischemic stroke is thrombolysis. The essence of the therapeutic procedure is the injection of a drug into the blocked blood vessels in the brain, which dissolves the clot, thereby normalizing the blood supply to the brain. When performing thrombolysis, promptness plays a crucial role, so if doctors manage to perform thrombolysis within 4 hours after the onset of stroke, the patient has a high chance of maximum recovery. Once neurologists stabilize the patient's condition, early rehabilitation begins. This phase of treatment involves speech therapists, physiotherapists, neuropsychologists, and specially trained nursing staff.

The department's neurologists also specialize in the treatment of Parkinson's disease. A patient first undergoes comprehensive diagnostics using the very latest ultrasound methods, magnetic resonance imaging, neurophysiological diagnostic procedures, and other specialized examinations for particular symptoms. Nowadays, Parkinson's disease cannot be completely cured, but there are many ways to preserve a person's quality of life and slow down the progression of the disease. The department uses all the possibilities of drug therapy, including treatment with Duodopa or apomorphine. Drug therapy is complemented by physiotherapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy, music therapy, and specialized care. As part of physiotherapy, the LSVT Big method is used, which is effective for typical manifestations of Parkinson's disease, such as short step length and limited movements. It is worth noting that the department participates in scientific research, so it guarantees the most modern diagnostics and treatment. The department is also a member of the MedNet Parkinson's Disease Competence Center Group.

The department's team of neurologists diagnoses and treats patients with all forms of dementia. Early diagnosis and therapy are crucial in this pathology, which positively influence the course of the disease, contribute to the preservation of mental abilities, and thus improve the quality of life. During the diagnostic stage, doctors perform a comprehensive neuropsychological examination on an outpatient basis. If dementia is suspected, additional differential diagnostics may be prescribed. As for the treatment, the primary therapeutic method is drug therapy. Additional therapeutic measures like group psychotherapy, physiotherapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy, and music therapy also have a good effect.

The clinical tasks of the department's doctors also include the diagnosis and treatment of multiple sclerosis. Unfortunately, this disease is incurable, but there are many methods to improve the patient's health. Since the pathology has many nuances, an individual treatment strategy is always elaborated for the patient, taking into account their symptoms. The department's medical team offers various forms of drug therapy. In cases of acute relapses, treatment is carried out in accordance with the recommendations of the German Multiple Sclerosis Society (DMSG). For example, a high dose of cortisone alleviates symptoms and reduces inflammation, but in severe acute relapses, cortisone may not be effective. In such cases, the patient is prescribed plasmapheresis or immunoadsorption.

The department's therapeutic options also include epilepsy treatment. This neurological disease develops due to abnormal brain activity and manifests itself through seizures, the intensity and duration of which are individual for each patient. During severe epileptic seizures, the patient has excessive salivation and foaming from the mouth, sudden loss of consciousness, and sharp muscle spasms with twitching of the legs. In such cases, a person needs qualified medical care. It is noteworthy that not all patients with epilepsy require treatment, so if the patient's epileptic seizures are relatively mild, occur very rarely, and do not cause any discomfort in everyday life, treatment is not mandatory. However, in many cases, patients with epilepsy suffer from severe and frequently recurring seizures. In such cases, the first-line treatment becomes drug therapy with anticonvulsants. Patients with epilepsy are also advised to avoid alcoholic beverages, as alcohol significantly worsens the course of the disease and complicates the treatment process.

The department's main clinical activities include the following:

• Diagnostics and treatment of stroke
• Diagnostics and treatment of Parkinson's disease
• Diagnostics and treatment of multiple sclerosis
• Diagnostics and treatment of dementia
• Diagnostics and treatment of dizziness
• Diagnostics and treatment of chronic headaches
• Diagnostics and treatment of restless legs syndrome
• Diagnostics and treatment of epilepsy
• Diagnostics and treatment of neuromuscular diseases
  • Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
  • Myopathies
  • Myasthenia gravis
  • Neuropathies and polyneuropathies
• Diagnostics and treatment of neurological conditions
• Diagnostics and treatment of other diseases of the nervous system