Sergey Sargsyan, the Head of the Institute of Child and Adolescent Health of “Arabkir” Medical Center, recently participated in a discussion on Child and Maternal health, focusing on the progress and future plans of WHO projects in these areas in Europe. The discussion covered topics such as child development and rehabilitation, the health of school-aged children and adolescents, improving the quality of medical care, policy development and more. Experts from several countries, including Great Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Norway, Ireland and Armenia, took part in the discussion.  During his visit to Germany, Sergey Sargsyan also visited Uelenkinder Center in Hamburg to learn about local experiences in organizing children’s palliative care. The German partners presented the features and functions of services for identifying, referring, and organizing follow-up care for children in need of palliative care. Sergey Sargsyan told about the efforts undertaken in this field in Armenia, highlighting that in recent years the World Health Organization and “Arabkir” MC-ICAH have been working on implementing pediatric palliative care in Armenia. In particular, with the support of the Open Society Institute, an assessment of the situation, the development of a concept, guidelines, educational materials and a project of standards have been carried out. Currently, practical work is already underway for the full implementation of the service in Armenia.

An “Inventory” has been opened at the “ArBeS” Health Center, functioning similarly to a library, but instead providing equipment and furniture to children undergoing rehabilitation therapy at “ArBeS”. The aim is to support children’s families ensuring they have necessary equipment at home such as special tables and chairs, stands, rollers, mattresses, and folding ramps. This type of equipment is particularly vital for children with musculoskeletal disorders. Recognizing this, parents have joined forces united in the “Source” Foundation under the leadership of Marina Parazyan, to implement various projects aimed at enhancing the quality of children's lives.     This project, supported by UNICEF and the “Izmirlian” charitable foundation, is a successful example of collaboration that parents believe should continue on an interdepartmental level.     The opening ceremony of the “Inventory” was attended by Deputy Minister of Health Artak Jumayan, Armen Chobanyan (head of the Armenian office of the “Izmirlian” Charitable Foundation), Maya Simonyan (Early Childhood Development officer of UNICEF) , Arman Babloyan (director of the “Arabkir” MC-ICAH), Ara Babloyan (scientific head of “Arabkir” MC-ICAH), Manushak Yeritsyan (head of the “ArBeS” Health Center), specialists, parents, and other guests.   Ara Babloyan acknowledged the proactive role of parents, emphasizing that even the most brilliant ideas would be unattainable without strong parental connections. The collaboration between the “Source” Foundation and “Arabkir” MC serves as an example of this, and there is confidence that the project will succeed.

Arthur and Alen came to the “Arabkir” Medical Center to be examined, which usually begins in the laboratory. Boys, of course, are brave and not so afraid of “bee sting”, but our partner 10X Immersive has made this process more entertaining for them and all other children.  With virtual reality (VR) glasses, children appear directly in the center of the cartoon, becoming, for example, a captain who protects the ship from attackers, or another hero who has to help animals. And at the same time, our skilled nurses perform the intervention without causing any discomfort or pain to the children.   According to psychologists, this is a good way to divert children’s attention at that moment and to carry out the intervention quickly and without stress. According to some studies, with the help of virtual reality glasses, the pain threshold can be reduced by up to 35%, which primarily helps children and their parents, as well as, of course, specialists. Our laboratory nurses, who work with children every day, say that since the glasses appeared, the crying is less, everyone does their own thing: the children watch their cartoons, and the nurse takes samples.   Arthur and Alen also admit that they didn’t feel anything. Alen says: I’ve heard that there are such glasses, but I’ve never worn them. It was very fun, it’s a pity it didn’t last long.   Thank you, 10X Immersive team!

ATTENTION!   Dear visitors,   We want to inform you about recent updates regarding the waiting lists at “Arabkir” Medical Center.   If you have a scheduled appointment through a state order for any service but haven't received a call from the registrar regarding a new appointment date, please contact the respective department again and confirm your new visit date.   General contact number: 015 400 300 and extension 11 11.  Department phone numbers are available via the link. 

This important day was marked in the medical calendar in the honor of the daughter of English banker William Nightingale, Florence, who was born on May 12, 1820. This is an opportunity to tell about the brave decisions of Florence Nightingale, a fragile young woman, who wanted to leave her home, go to Germany and study nursing, so she can be next to wounded and those in need throughout her life as a true nurse.   In the memoirs of the Crimean War, it would be said about Florence later. “The “lady with the lamp” who arrived in Crimea from England with her group of devotees, walked around the rows of sleepless wounded all night long, giving one a glass of water, another a pill, and giving the next one a simple human smile. It was she who was entrusted with the management of the army hospital in Scutari and in that regard, the wounded soldiers were lucky."   After the war, Florence returned to Britain from the Crimea as a true hero, who was awarded with by the Queen herself, asking her not to stop working. It was then that Florence founded the Nightingale Training School, educating new generations and passing on her knowledge and skills to younger colleagues. We are happy to state that the strong nursing team of "Arabkir" Medical Center is one of the most loyal followers of the pioneer of modern nursing work, Florence Nightingale. Our Nursing Council, founded with Swiss friends, also pursues the professional development and progress of nurses with regularly held courses and conferences. Today, our skilled nurses not only receive continuous training, but also train young specialists both from "Arabkir" and from other medical institutions.  Dear nurses, we congratulate you on your day! We wish you a blissful feeling of flying in your professional and responsible field, keep going, traveling and learning non-stop. And if you walk through Waterloo Square in London one day, stop for a moment, smile and bow before the statue of Florence Nightingale.

The anesthesia - surgical team from the Stony Brook University of New York was in “Arabkir” Medical Center under the leadership of our compatriot, pediatric anesthesiologist, Doctor of Medicine Vahe Tadevosyan.  This was another visit made within the framework of many years of cooperation in order to share and exchange innovative experience and skills with each other. In addition to joint consultations, discussions and work in the operating room, the specialists from the US presented interesting clinical cases and new scientific materials. They emphasized that with each visit to “Arabkir”, they consistently learn something new and valuable from their colleagues, which they are then able to apply in their practice, making these visits extremely important for them as well.   News.am   “Anesthesiology, especially pediatric anesthesiology, is one of the most complex fields of medicine. Working with children in this field is special, based on both anatomical and physiological nuances, as well as pharmacological ones”. Khachatur Kyurkchyan, head of the anesthesiology and intensive care department of the "Arabkir" Medical Center, said this in a conversation with NEWS.am Medicine. According to him, this is one of the cases when it is not possible to say that the organism of a child is the same as the organism of an adult, just smaller. No. A specialist who does not know the anatomical and physiological characteristics of a child cannot successfully perform anesthesia, especially when it comes to babies one or two days old, whose brain is more sensitive to oxygen deprivation and whose cardiovascular system is less compensated. That is why, according to him, following international developments in pediatric anesthesiology, learning about innovative approaches, and exchanging professional experience and skills are very important, and "Arabkir" Medical Center cooperates with a number of clinics and professional associations for this purpose, including Vahe Tadevosyan's team from the famous Stony Brook clinic in the USA.  "And the exchange of experience and the discussion of cases regarding modern pediatric anesthesiology are important especially for those who are new to this field," Khachatur Kyurkchyan said. Now, the "Arabkir" Medical Center once again hosted a group of anesthesiologists and surgeons from Stony Brook University Hospital in New York, led by the famous Armenian anesthesiologist, Doctor of Medical Sciences, Vahe Tadevosyan. "For years, I have had a working relationship with the administration and teaching staff of the "Arabkir" Medical Center, and now I am lucky enough to gather a multidisciplinary team to come to Yerevan and work with our Armenian colleagues. Our goal is professional dialogue, discussion of ideas and exchange of experience. And I am very happy that we succeed, our visits create opportunities for professional mutual assistance," said pediatric anesthesiologist Vahe Tadevosyan from the Stony Brook University Hospital. These visits for exchange of experience and skills are of great importance for specialists from both sides, because in the conditions of daily development of practical medicine, innovative solutions appear, which are certainly interesting and educational.

Happy Birthday, dear Ara Sayen,   We wish you health, peace and opportunities to implement your child-centered, human-centered ideas. Your efforts and dedication to the healthcare in Armenia and Artsakh, especially in pediatrics, are invaluable, thank you.   We wish lots of energy for you to enjoy the fruits of your labor, and, as always, initiate new ones for Armenian children and adults.

Asthma is a complex disease caused by genetic and environmental factors. It is the most common chronic disease in children and adolescents worldwide and one of the most common in adults.   The World Health Organization has highlighted asthma as both a cause and consequence of poverty in low- and middle-income countries. WHO estimates that asthma affects 339 million people worldwide.   On the occasion of World Asthma Day, the European Respiratory Society (ERS) and the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) have joined forces to discuss key updates to the GINA 2023 strategy report on asthma management recommendations for adults, adolescents and  children, highlighting the key questions on the topic:  how climate change and air pollution can affect people with asthma,  what specialists can do to choose the most suitable inhaler for their patients,  what needs to be done to guarantee a healthier future for patients at national, European and global levels.   In Armenia, children and adolescents with asthma are served in “Arabkir” Medical Center. In our Respiratory Medicine and Allergology service, all modern methods for diagnosis, treatment and management of asthma are possible now, thanks to the close cooperation of our doctors with foreign clinics and professional associations, continuing professional development and great technical equipment.    Asthma is not a sentence. Early diagnosis and proper medical approach make it manageable.

A bust of Jean-Pierre Bernհardt, a Swiss humanist and a great friend of “Arabkir” Medical Complex, was placed in the yard of "ArBeS" Health Center. This is a sign of love and gratitude to a person with whom "Arabkir" has had a long and fruitful journey since the 1988 earthquake.   The commemoration ceremony was attended by Jean-Pierre's wife and son, Françoise Bernhardt and Martin Bernhardt, Lukas Rosenkranz, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Switzerland to Armenia, Jean-Pierre's Armenian colleagues, friends and students.   "If I start telling the story of our friendship, our plans, difficulties and successes, it will take days to present it all. What you see today in the "Arabkir" Medical Complex, in the "ArBeS" Health Center, in the "Aparan" health camp, in what serves the Armenian people today, the Armenian children, in all that, Jean-Pierre has his contribution. We wouldn't be what we are today if Jean-Pierre wasn't in our lives and if he didn't teach us to dream. Jean-Pierre was our dear friend, our invaluable advisor, and for me personally, someone who became a brother," said Professor Ara Babloyan in his speech.   "In the short period of my diplomatic mission in Armenia, I realized that Jean-Pierre is one of the symbols of Armenia-Switzerland friendship, and his brotherhood with Professor Babloyan is the source of many programs and ideas aimed at the development of healthcare and improving the quality of children’s life in Armenia. This is invaluable," Ambassador Rosenkranz said.   The attendees were also welcomed by the children from the kindergarten, who presented their warm performances in Armenian and French. Having a kindergarten was also Jean-Pierre's idea.    Ara Babloyan and Martin Bernhardt planted trees next to Jean-Pierre's bust, hoping that they will live long, like the friendship between Armenia and Switzerland, "Arabkir" and Jura canton, Ara Babloyan and Jean-Pierre Bernhardt.    Martin Bernhardt thanked them for the extremely exciting and important event, noting that the most exciting thing are the children, who were always in Jean-Pierre's mind and dreams. "And now we are happy that Jean-Pierre is here at “ArBeS” with this work so alive, so natural, simple and modest like him," said Martin Bernhardt, giving special thanks to the author of the sculpture, Emin Petrosyan.

10-year-old Arin has been in "Arabkir" Medical Center for several months. The tragic car accident changed the life of the Iraqi-Armenian child, leaving her without parental care and causing a number of health conditions.   The little girl was transferred to Armenia, and with the support of the Ministry of Health and with the efforts of the medical team of "Arabkir" she has progressed well.   The Public TV covered Arin's story. 

Dear patients, in response to your questions, we would like to inform that computed tomography, or as it is commonly known, CT scan, is performed in the “Arabkir” Medical Center:  for the examination of all organ-systems, without age restrictions (both for adults and children) with and without contrast, with and without anesthesia, based on indications. You can read about computed tomography, as well as about other functions of the Diagnostic Radiation service of the “Arabkir” Medical Center by following the link.

April 11th is highlighted in medical calendar as Parkinson’s Disease Awareness Day:  an occasion to talk about parkinsonism, its diagnosis and modern methods of treatment.   The video from news.am refers to neurosurgical treatment of parkinsonism at "Arabkir" Medical Center emphasizing how effective deep brain stimulation with neuromonitoring can be and how important it is for improving the quality of human life.  The 60-year-old man has had Parkinson's disease for over 10 years. He had been receiving drug treatment for many years, but the medications are no longer helpful, and even cause some complications. According to neurologist Zaruhi Tavadyan in a conversation with NEWS.am Medicine, the man had problems with work, social activities, and quality of life. The doctors at “Arabkir” Medical Center suggested a surgical treatment method - deep brain stimulation, which will allow him to return to his active life. “Parkinson’s disease is a chronic progressive neurological disorder of the central nervous system. Its classic symptoms are mainly motor: slowness in motion, tremor, impaired gait, coordination problems, muscle stiffness, and many non-motor symptoms like depression, sleep disorders, pain, etc. All of these symptoms together have a significant impact on the quality of life. During this disorder and drug treatment, patients may experience complications related to the treatment, irregular response to medications, irregular movements. At a certain point, it becomes difficult for patients to continue their treatment with conventional medications alone” says Zaruhi Tavadyan. She also mentions that deep brain stimulation has been used as a treatment method for over two decades. It allows for continuous adjustments in the patient’s mobility over time and helps them to remain active. Deep brain stimulation is a surgery, during which electrodes are placed in specific areas of the brain, which are then connected to a stimulation device implanted under the skin in the chest cavity. The device generates electrical impulses that inhibit abnormal brain activity. This is a complex operation, and surgeons need to find the correct position of electrodes without damaging the motor area of the brain. In the past, the surgery was performed with local anesthesia as the patient had to perform some tasks during the operation in order to evaluate the method's effectiveness and safety. For example, violinist Roger Frisch is known to have played the violin during this type of operation. Today, in “Arabkir” Medical Center, deep brain stimulation is performed with modern technology, neuromonitoring, and there is no longer a need to keep the patient awake, says neurosurgeon Sevak Badalyan. “In our center, deep brain stimulation is performed under general anesthesia and under the control of neuromonitoring, which has many advantages. Firstly, the patient is in a more comfortable state under general anesthesia, and neuromonitoring allows us to adjust the electrode's position and avoid possible side effects of stimulation. Neuromonitoring is a widely used method nowadays. It involves closing an electrical circuit, i.e . a stimulation of the corresponding area is done and the stimulus is recorded from the peripheral muscles. In other words, it can be facial muscle, upper or lower limbs, therefore, it will be facial  nerve or hypoglossal nerve, depending on the specifics of the operated region. The goal is to avoid the damage to relevant areas and pathways” he says. Before the operation, doctors carefully study the patient's brain MRI image, find target nuclei and insert electrodes virtually. Then, right before the operation, contrast CT-scan is performed, the results of which are then combined with MRI. To determine the precise place of where electrodes should be placed, a special coordinate system called stereoscopic circle, is used, Niko Arzumanyan, the head of the Neurosurgery Service has noted. “The intervention consists of several stages. In the first stage of the operation, a special metal device is attached to the patient’s head, which helps us to create a virtual coordinate system, and by combining the results of the computed tomography and MRI imaging through the appropriate program, we are able to get coordinates we need, and with the corresponding coordinates, insert the electrodes in the right place with an accuracy of up to 0.6mm” he says.  Niko Arzumanyan mentions that deep brain stimulation has been used in “Arabkir” Medical Center for over a year now, and all the operated patients are satisfied with the results. All of this became possible thanks to the latest equipment and digital technologies acquired by the center.  Deep brain stimulation is used not only to treat parkinsonism, but for other neurological and even psychiatric disorders as well, says Zaruhi Tavadyan. “Deep brain stimulation is used primarily for Parkinson’s disease, as well as for genetic or essential tremor, and in pediatrics for some types of dystonia. By now, the indications for deep brain stimulation are increasing, the field is expanding, and in the future this method will be used for movement disorders as well, and not only. For example, it can be used in psychiatry, but for now it is used for movement disorders such as classical parkinsonism, essential tremor and dystonia”, she says. 3-4 weeks after the surgery, when the patient’s wounds have healed, the doctors will run the stimulator and make the adjustments. As a result, the patient's slowness of movement, tremor, gait and speech will be corrected, the use of medication will be reduced, which will significantly improve his quality of life.  

Why do children act aggressively, what types of aggression there are, which are the main causes of it, and how can aggression be managed.  Varvara Avakimyan, psychologist at "Arabkir" Medical Center, has presented details about aggression in children and mentioned most common myths and facts about this topic.

April 7th is the World Health Day, and in Armenia, also the Maternity and Beauty Day. Because diagnosis is one of the most important aspects of healthcare and treatment of diseases, we suggest you watch this edition of the "Health and Beauty" program, where Marine Grigoryan, the head of the Diagnostic Radiation Service of "Arabkir" Medical Center, talks about radiation diagnostics.    Protect your most valuable possession - your health - by preventing and diagnosing diseases early.

The visit of Professor Alexander Moeller, the head of the Respiratory Diseases Department at the University Children's Hospital of Zurich, to the “Arabkir” Medical Center has concluded.    Almost 100 doctors from “Arabkir” and other medical institutions have participated in the two-day course.   The main topics of the course were related to pediatric respiratory medicine, covering details of diagnosis and treatment. Professor presented the latest updates of the guidelines, which are widely discussed not only in Armenia, but all over the world. Participants had the opportunity to receive updates directly from the head of the guideline's author group, and obtain comprehensive answers to many professional questions.    The cherished aspect of Professor Moeller’s traditional visits is the bedside teaching, where discussions take place directly next to the patient and with them. This format provides a unique opportunity, especially for clinical residents at “Arabkir” MC, to participate in the process of examining and analyzing the problem with a world-renowned Professor.  

On the occasion of World Autism Awareness Day, Gayane Zakaryan, the head of the Rehabilitology service of the "ArBeS" Health Center of the "Arabkir" Medical Center, answered the questions of News.am's "Ask the doctor" series. Listen about: how to recognize autism, when is the right time to see a doctor, what are the main causes of this problem, what are the main approaches to working with a child with autism, how can people with autism take care of themselves and be independent.

Professor Ara Babloyan, the Scientific Head of “Arabkir” Medical Center, sent a gratitude letter to the Ambassador of the Republic of Belarus in Armenia, Mr. Alexander Konyuk, for the great support of our Belarusian partners in the important mission of saving the life of another child.    We are also grateful to our faithful friend, the Health Fund for Children of Armenia, for the support shown in child’s surgery, and for transportation to and from Minsk.     Your Excellency, Mr. Ambassador, accept our gratitude for the great support of our Belarusian partners in the crucial mission of saving the life of another child. Rafayel Khachinyan was born in 2008 with congenital hepatic fibrosis and over the years the necessity of liver transplant, which is the only solution for this problem, has arisen.  The transplant was performed on January 31, 2023, in Yerevan, with the joint efforts of doctors from the “Arabkir” Medical Center-Institute of Child and Adolescent Health and the Minsk Scientific and Practical Center of Surgery, Transplantology and Hematology, under the leadership of Professor Oleg Rummo.    The surgery was successful, but during the postoperative period there were two critical episodes when the child had experienced acute rejection of the transplant. The first episode was resolved through conservative treatment, which was not effective in the second episode. The specialists of both clinics decided to transfer the child to Minsk for further examinations and treatment.  The child was transferred to Minsk on March 11 and returned home on March 24 with stabilized health.   This case is not only about powerful professional abilities, but great humanity, kindness, healthy and honest cooperation as well. We are immensely grateful to our little compatriot and his family, as well as to our Belarusian partners, for standing with us and providing support during our clinic's first steps in liver transplant. We would also like to express our deep gratitude to the Belarusian “Belavia” company for their tremendous support in arranging the airplane tickets. Respectfully,  Professor Ara Babloyan, Scientific Head of the “Arabkir” MC-ICAH

Ani Gevorgyan, the head of the Neurology Department of “Arabkir” Medical Center and Yelena Baghdasaryan, the President of the “Path of Life” Foundation took part in a press conference dedicated to Epilepsy Day at Sputnik Armenia Radio Station.    They answered questions about epilepsy, the difficulties faced by people with this problem and ways to overcome them. The important message of the day is not to label people with epilepsy for having it. It is a problem that can happen to anyone. You just have to learn how to manage epilepsy and behave in a proper way in case of epileptic seizures. 

One more reflection on the "Purple Day". "Aravot" spoke with Ani Gevorgyan, the head of the Neurology Department.    Read, be informed and try to differentiate epileptic seizure from epilepsy disorder, learn about the main types of seizures and epilepsy, their causes and risk factors, modern treatment options. Know how to take an approach, if someone nearby is having an epileptic seizure. Most importantly, remember that epilepsy is not a sentence, and it is not fair to label people with epilepsy or hide the condition to avoid being labeled.  Everyone has some kind of problem, no one is immune, and a person is not to blame if they have, for example, epilepsy.

Today is March 26th, also known as Epilepsy Awareness Day or Purple Day.   Around 50 million people in the world have epilepsy. It is a problem, but not a sentence. Modern medicine offers effective treatments for people with epilepsy, such as medical, surgical and even lifestyle modifications.    The team of neurologists and neurosurgeons of the “Arabkir” Medical Center in Armenia brings all the innovations in epileptology and is with patients, providing the most effective treatment methods. The pediatric epilepsy dispensary operates in “Arabkir”, where more than 3600 patients aged 0-18 are registered. Most of them receive medical treatment, and surgery is indicated to some, which is also available in our medical center.   This time, listen to the answers to the most frequently asked questions about epilepsy from adult neurologist Lusine Vardanyan, be informed and take the right approach, if the person next to you is having epileptic seizures.

Dear colleagues,    We invite the attention of pulmonologists, allergists, pediatricians and cardiologists to the Children's Respiratory Medicine training course which will take place at "Arabkir" Medical Center. The honored guest speaker of the course is Professor Alexander Moeller, the head of the Respiratory Diseases and Sleep Disorders Department at the University Children's Hospital of Zurich. Following topics will be covered during the lectures:  wheezing in preschoolers, bronchial asthma and its diagnosis, treatment of bronchiolitis/bronchitis, acute and chronic cough.   The lectures will be held on March 29 and 30 at 15:00-17:00, in the Green Hall of "Arabkir" MC. The course is organized in cooperation with "Arabkir" MC and the University Children's Hospital of Zurich. Please note that CPD credits will not be provided.  To register, please follow the link: https://forms.gle/yHFnDUtcMZWjkX2q6

News.am's reference to the recently performed complex surgery in the neurosurgical service of the “Arabkir” Medical Center intended to remove a child’s brain tumor and thus prevent epileptic episodes.   The head of the Neurology and Epileptology service Biayna Sukhudyan, and the head of the Neurosurgery service Niko Arzumanyan provided details about the case, the surgery and, as a whole, about this problem and its modern solutions.    In “Arabkir” Medical Center, a surgical treatment of epilepsy was performed on an 8-year old girl, using modern technologies. Studies have shown that the cause of the child’s epileptic seizures over several years was a large tumor, which compressed nearby areas of the brain. During the tumor removal, neuromonitoring was used to bypass the motor nerve fibers and avoid damage to the child’s motor functions. According to Niko Arzumanyan, the head of the Neurosurgery service who spoke with NEWS.am Medicine, the issue in this patient’s case was not the tumor itself, but the compression of nearby areas of the brain by the tumor, resulting in epilepsy.  What is neuromonitoring?  "Neuromonitoring was very important for this surgery, because the tumor was directly adjacent to the motor areas of the brain and cerebral cortex, as well as corresponding pathways. During the removal of every millimeter of the tumor, we use a special tool to stimulate the brain tissue.    Depending on amount of electric current used to stimulate the brain and elicit a response, we estimate how far we are from the corresponding motor nerve fibers. The main goal of this is so that during the surgery and post-operative care we will not have any deficit and will not damage the motor ability of the body," he said.  According to Niko Arzumanyan, surgical treatment of epilepsy with simultaneous monitoring is one of the new directions that is being developed in “Arabkir” Medical Center. Until now such operations were performed here with the participation of foreign partners, but now the doctors of “Arabkir” MC work independently. The surgery lasted almost 10 hours, because the tumor was quite large and solid. It took the doctors multiple efforts and hours to remove it without damaging the vessels and nerves of the brain.    Biayna Sukhudyan, the head of the Neurology and Epileptology service of “Arabkir” Medical Center mentioned, that the child had been under the of doctors at “Arabkir” MC for several years, her illness appeared with seizures. Various examinations such as MRI and video-EEG monitoring were performed and right parietal tumor with epileptic activity were diagnosed.  “For the first time in Armenia, tractography was performed, which allowed us to understand that the tumor does not include important nerve fibers, however, our neurosurgeons chose to use neuromonitoring during surgery to be safer,” she said.    Video EEG Electroencephalography remains as one of the most important diagnostic tests for epilepsy. Video-EEG or video electroencephalography is one of the newest methods used in “Arabkir” MC. It is a study that records the electrical activity of the brain over a long period of time, which significantly increases the chances of accurate diagnosis of epileptic foci.  “Electrodes are attached with special paste to the heads of our children and adults, and the patients remain in the hospital for 24, 48 or 72 hours. Then the doctor deciphers the results and tries to determine where that electrical activity comes from. If a number of studies confirm and coincide, all showing the same epileptogenic focus, then the patient's chances of overcoming the disease with surgical intervention in the future are quite high,” she explained.  The operated child will undergo EEG monitoring again in a few months to check the effectiveness of the surgery. She will take her medicine for several years, after which, the doctors are sure that she will finally get rid of epilepsy and will live a full and healthy life.   Epilepsy Statistics  The head of the service, Biayna Sukhudyan stated that 70% of the epilepsy cases can be managed through medical treatment, while 30% are difficult to control, and 15% require surgical treatment.  All children in Armenia with epilepsy are under the supervision of "Arabkir" Medical Center. Not only children, but many adults with epilepsy and other neurological disorders receive treatment in the hospital, according to Biayna Sukhudyan. “Currently over 3600 children aged 0-18 are under our care, all of whom have some form of epilepsy, whether genetic or acquired.  Today we have adults and children under our control, and the state program includes people up to the age of 40 who may potentially be candidates for surgery. We also receive adults with drug-resistant epilepsy” she explained.

Dear colleagues, the 6th International Medical Congress of Armenia will be held on July 6-8.   The mission is to strengthen relations between Armenia and the Diaspora, discuss the problems of healthcare systems of Artsakh and Armenia, define priorities, promote the exchange and localization of experience in medical and healthcare fields.   During the congress, lectures by internationally renowned scientists will be presented, scientific sections, satellite symposiums and seminars will be organized. On the third day, as a tradition, various projects aimed at healthcare and medical education that have been organized through Armenia-Diaspora cooperation, will be discussed.  The topics covered will be published in a collection.    To participate, please register via the link:  https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=123244887263922

Skin problems often become more active during the spring and with the sun. Those who have dealt with such issues, are well aware of this. Modern medicine offers various methods to calm skin exacerbations and alleviate them.   One such method is the excimer laser, which can be used to treat vitiligo, psoriasis, focal hair loss and localized eczema. By emitting waves of a special length, this treatment can  have selective anti-inflammatory effect on the skin, prevent further aggravation of the problem and control its course. The necessary number of interventions and treatment plan is determined by the doctor.   Dermatologists assure that this is a safe and effective way to address skin problems. To learn more, check out the Dermatology service of “Arabkir” Medical Center via the link: https://arabkirmc.am/hy/services/105.

The Pediatric Radiology Symposium took place at “Arabkir” MC featuring guest speaker Professor Erich Sorantin from the University of Graz, Austria.   The days of symposium were filled with news and intense discussions, in which over 150 specialists from “Arabkir” Medical Center and other medical institutions of Yerevan and regions participated.    Professor Erich Sorantin not only heads the Department of Pediatric Radiology at Graz University Hospital in Austria, but also leads the Digital Information and Image Processing Research Group. He coordinates a multidisciplinary, multi-institutional academic network in Central Europe focused on developing biomedical imaging and technologies, implementing them in practical medicine, and ensuring radiation protection. The symposium provided a great opportunity to hear Professor Sorantin’s motivating, live and interactive lectures, participate in a practical ultrasound course, discuss clinical cases, as well as service development opportunities.  The symposium was organized by the Diagnostic Radiology Service of “Arabkir” MC-ICAH, the Arabkir Young Physicians Association /AYPA/ and Armenian Pediatric Association as part of the Open Medical Institute’s satellite symposium program. Participants will receive 10 CPD credits from the Ministry of Health: 2 practical and 8 theoretical.

“Boon TV” has published the discussion of Professor Babloyan and the “Healthcare” series author Violeta Zopunyan, which was recorded months ago. Following topics were covered:  Principles for healthcare reforms Healthcare in first years of independence Participation of medical workers in development of reforms Continuing professional development Right to health and social justice Reforms of cardiac surgery and prevention of myocardial infarction  The correct ways of using international experience Is it possible to change the system without changing the people?

Dear women,   On the occasion of International Women's Day, March 8, I want you to enjoy your rights to health, peaceful living, creating and feeling the joy of motherhood, and infinite love, which will empower you to overcome difficulties.   Thank you for making our lives more interesting and warm with your presence, more secure and trustworthy with your work and more meaningful with your devotion.     Arman Babloyan, Director of "Arabkir" MC

What is congenital clubfoot? How is it expressed? What are the modern solutions to this problem and how effective are they?   Watch the video, where Vahe Yavryan, the head of the department of Traumatology and Orthopedics of “Arabkir” Medical Center, talks about clubfoot, and be more informed.

March 3rd is World Hearing Day, an important date on the medical calendar.    Hearing is one of our senses that connects us with the world and it requires special attention and care. This year's theme from the World Health Organization is “Ear and hearing care for all”. Specialists are calling for special attention to hearing health, advising regular check-ups with primary care providers and taking immediate steps to prevent further hearing loss, if problems are detected.    “Arabkir” Medical Center is the largest center providing services to children with hearing impairments in Armenia. Here, follow-up care for over 1200 children is carried out. With the help of our audiology team, children even with severe hearing loss learn how to speak, integrate fully into society, including attending public schools.  https://arabkirmc.am/hy/services/93

“Arabkir” Medical Center is hiring nurses on a permanent basis, for shift and day work schedules.      Responsibilities: perform the appointments of doctors accurately and fully, with quality and on time, perform the organization of laboratory and instrumental examinations on time, monitor the results, perform therapeutic care of patients, diagnostic, treatment and prevention interventions according to the doctor’s appointment.   Requirements: secondary vocational education, kind, friendly and willingness to learn.   Advantages: opportunities to work with modern equipment, high-quality materials and instruments, invaluable experience of working in a professional team with doctors, continuous professional development.   Trial period. before becoming a full member of our team, the candidate goes through a 3-month trial period, however, the trial period may be shortened, depending on its course, the trial period helps to get acquainted with the internal regulations of the company and with the performance of work, gain professional practical and theoretical skills. To apply, send your CV and motivational letter to [email protected].

Pediatrician Sergey Sargsyan, the head of the Institute of Child and Adolescent Health answered questions on Boon TV: most common conditions in children, child mortality rate in last years, accessibility of medical services, state order and patients’ flow, the role of primary healthcare and the importance of working in regions, effective communication between parents and doctors, pediatric palliative care.

Professor Babloyan answered questions about medical insurance on “Yerkir Media” TV channel.