Neurology
The Department of Neurology at Seoul National University Bundang Hospital provides diagnostic testing, treatment, and comprehensive consultative services for a broad spectrum of neurological conditions, including diseases of the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nervous system. A dedication to understanding the nervous system through research and how it can impact clinical care has defined our department since its opening in 2003. Our department’s renowned faculty, strengthened by our tradition of sharing of ideas across disciplines, offers patients remarkable new diagnostic capabilities and therapies. Our department consists of the following seven centers: Epilepsy and Sleep Center, Neurocognitive Behavior Center, Center for Dizziness and Ocular Motor Disorders, Cerebrovascular Center, Spinal Cord and Neuromuscular Center, Movement Disorder Center, and Neurocritical Care Center. Today, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital is laying the foundation for more medical advancements, including the opening of our new state-of-the-art buildings. We commit ourselves to providing excellent patient care through individualized treatment plans. We continue to build on our mission to not only integrate research, education, and patient care but also advance the field of neurology.
Treatments & Services
Epilepsy, headache, stroke, Alzheimer’s disease, cognitive and behavioral disorder, dizziness, ocular motility disorders, vascular cognitive impairment, dementia, peripheral nerve disorders, spinal cord disorders, muscle disorders, multiple sclerosis, clinical neurophysiology, neurocritical care, Parkinson’s disease, movement disorder, Botox, gait disorder, essential tremor, sleep disorder, syncope, restless legs syndrome
1. Epilepsy and sleep Center
SNUBH is recognized as a leader in treatment for medically intractable and new onset epilepsy. This multidisciplinary program includes adult and pediatric epileptologists, neurosurgeons, neuropsychologists, neuroradiologists, neuroradiology and neuropathology within outpatient facilities that includes five EEG laboratories and two bed epilepsy monitoring unit. Neurologists work in collaboration with neurosurgeons and diagnostic imaging to deliver intensive and innovative therapeutic and diagnostic services to individuals with varying forms and degrees of seizures and epilepsy. The SNUBH Sleep Medicine Center is dedicated to diagnosing and treating all types of sleep disorders, helping patients face life’s demands with energy and clarity. In most cases, effective treatment is readily available, especially cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia.
2. Neurocognitive Behavior Center
The neurocognitive behavior center is dedicated to the care of individuals who suffer from cognitive behavior disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, vascular dementia, frontotemporal dementia, cognitive impairment related with depression, Parkinson's disease dementia, dementia with Lewy bodies, posttraumatic cognitive impairment, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease and transient global amnesia. Through the neurocognitive behavior center, patients could get professional care throughout the diagnostic, treatment and follow-up processes. Associated services include all-around neurologic assessment, neuroimaging (MRI, SPECT or PET), neuropsychological assessment, specialized pharmacological and non-pharmacological managements, genetic counseling and homecare nursing services. Our center also conducts many research activities and clinical trials. Patients have the opportunity to take part in a diverse range of studies, from clinical trials testing the latest drugs and therapies to neuropathological or genetic investigation.
3. Center for Dizziness and Ocular Motor Disorders
The Dizziness and Ocular Motor Center provides a comprehensive and multidisciplinary care for people who suffer from dizziness, double vision, and balance problems. Imbalance and dizziness may occur in various disorders including migraine, inner ear problems, cerebrovascular diseases, and autonomic dysfunction. Diagnosis and treatment of dizziness and imbalance should be based on systematic evaluation including detailed medical history, physical and neurological examination, and appropriate laboratory tests. Our center runs the world class laboratories equipped with up-to-date apparatus and cutting-edge technology. The Dizziness and Ocular Motor Center is under the direction of Prof. Ji-Soo Kim, MD, PhD who is a world-renown neuro-otologist and neuro-ophthalmologist. He is on the editorial boards of Journal of Clinical Neurology, Journal of Neuro-ophthalmology, and Journal of Vestibular Research, and has served as the chair of ICVD Subcommittee for Vascular Vertigo at Barany Society. In 2014, Prof. Kim published a review paper for benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, the most common cause of vertigo, in The New England Journal of Medicine that is known as the best journal in Medicine.
4. Cerebrovascular Center
Stroke is the number one cause of death in South Korea as a single disease entity. Recent developments in medical science moved stroke to a curable disease. Under these circumstances, we launched the Cerebrovascular center in September 8th, 2005 for the best stroke care. Our center is composed of experts from a number of disciplines specialized in cerebrovascular disease, such as neurology, neurosurgery, emergency medicine, radiology, nuclear medicine, rehabilitation, and psychiatry. In 2006, we took a big step for stroke patient treatment by establishing “Stroke Clinical Pathway.” “Stroke CP” is a system set with the help of emergency medicine department, department of neurology, neurosurgery, radiology and rehabilitation clinic. “Stroke CP” gives preferential tests to acute stroke patients. And based on the results, it offers various operations like IV thrombolysis, endovascular recanalization, cerebrovascular balloon angioplasty, carotid or intracranial arterial stenting. Also, it systemized all the process of stroke care, from hospitalization, intensive monitoring in the stroke unit, starting of the drug treatment, earlier rehabilitation, transition to long-term care facilities or discharge to their home. “Stroke CP” was the most innovative event in domestic acute stroke patient treatment that brought us fastest promptitude nationally.
5. Spinal Cord and Neuromuscular Center
Our physicians have specialized expertise in diagnosing and treating a wide range of neuromuscular diseases, including nerve disorders (Guillain-Barré syndrome, chronic inflammatory demyelinating neuropathy and neuropathies related to other general diseases such as diabetes), neuromuscular junction disorders (such as myasthenia gravis), muscle disorders (muscular dystrophy, myotonic dystrophy and myositis), spinal cord disorders (such as myelitis), demyelinating diseases (multiple sclerosis and neuromyelitis optica), neuropathic pain syndromes with various etiologies, motor neuron disorders (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and spinal muscular atrophy). Our center offers extensive clinical experiences, access to physicians who are renowned experts and have authored textbooks and lecture frequently at national conferences and leading-edge diagnostic services including an electromyography (EMG) and evoked potential (EP) lab
6. Movement Disorder Center
Movement disorders are neurological conditions that affect the speed, fluency, quality, and ease of movement. These include Parkinson's disease, Parkinson plus syndromes (e.g., multiple system atrophy or progressive supranuclear palsy), tremor (e.g., essential tremor), chorea (e.g., Huntington's disease), ataxia (lack of coordination), dystonia (prolonged muscle contraction and abnormal posture), myoclonus (rapid, brief, irregular and jerky movement), restless legs syndrome, tics and Wilson’s disease. We provide multidisciplinary management plans for patients including comprehensive neurological assessment, advanced techniques in neuroradiology (MRI, PET and SPECT), the latest pharmacological or non-pharmacological managements, collaboration with the department of neurosurgery for surgical treatment options (such as deep brain stimulation).
7. Neurocritical Care Center
The Neurocritical care team of Seoul National University Bundang Hospital provides continuous monitoring and treatment for patients with serious disease of the central and peripheral nervous system. Our 20-bed neurocritical care unit (NCU) was established in 2013, and we treated more than 800 patients per year. Our center team includes neurologists, neurosurgeons, pulmonologists, anesthesiologists, pharmacists and specially trained nurses. Currently we have two faculty members and two fellows. Residents rotate through the NCU for two months, and learn about neurological and general critical care management. The disease treated by a neurocritical care team is broad including ischemic stroke, hemorrhagic stroke, traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, seizure, encephalitis, neuromuscular disease, and many others. Our facility is equipped with multimodality monitoring for cardiopulmonary system, cooling devices, continuous EEG, and neuromonitoring.