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Role of the department  The Neuropaediatrics Department treats all diseases of the nervous system in children – brain, spinal cord, bone marrow, peripheral nerves and muscles – from diagnosis to treatment. The care is psychosocial as well as medical and surgical.    Image "The department's mission is to provide children with the best possible care through a multidisciplinary and humanist approach. It also seeks to offer the complete medical and paramedical team stimulating working conditions rooted in respect, for which clinical, scientific and teaching excellence are the motor. Finally, as a tertiary centre, special attention is paid to communication with the paediatricians and generalists who place their trust in us in referring their patients for specialised opinions."    The department's specialities The refractory epilepsy unit provides personalised care with a special focus on ensuring that the patient and family are involved in the care plan. Thanks to a highly specialised multidisciplinary team, the child is at the centre of care when:   treating epileptic episodes with innovative treatment (medicinal, dietary, surgical in cooperation with the Erasmus Hospital)   dealing with learning difficulties and the psychological and social impact of the illness.  The neuromuscular reference centre proposes consultations for diagnosing neuromuscular diseases and multidisciplinary care involving physiotherapists, orthopaedists, ergotherapists, psychologists, etc. in cooperation with the centre dedicated to adults at the Erasmus Hospital. For some diseases gene therapies can be proposed.   Specialised consultation for neuro-inflammatory pathologies permits an adapted and multidisciplinary treatment of these rare and complex diseases involving intensive care, physical medicine and pain management.   Prenatal diagnosis proposes the treatment of neurological diseases at the earliest possible stage with pre- and post-natal teams from the HUB and IRIS networks. This makes it possible to determine the neurological prognosis, to participate in therapeutic decisions and to provide pre- and post-natal follow up best suited to the specific and ethical needs of the child and family.   The multidisciplinary centre for neurodevelopmental pathologies proposes multidisciplinary consultations for the optimal care of these pathologies. Consultations with all the specialists are scheduled on the same day to avoid unnecessary travel. (Very) premature babies are monitored by the department after their stay in the neonatal unit, possibly in collaboration with a private paediatrician. The CRFNI, a centre where children are tested (multidisciplinary assessments: occupational therapy, physiotherapy, speech therapy, neuropsychology) and monitored (rehabilitation). The centre also monitors children with cerebral palsy.   Our team Image Our specialists Focus The Neuropaediatrics Department cooperates with other national and international university centres within the European Research Network (ERN) EpiCare via the BRACE (Brussels Rare and Complex Epilepsies) centre.   Research The department is actively involved in a number of research projects, in particular on the link between epilepsy  and cognition in centrotemporal epilepsy thanks to the support of the Belgian Kids Fund and IRIS Fund in cooperation with the UR2NF.  It actively participates in developing innovative treatments for neuromuscular diseases.    It is actively seeking to improve the treatment of dyspraxia in children.  Teaching Teaching is at the heart of the department's practice: As an internship department approved by the Federal Department of Public Health for paediatric neurology, we organise weekly multidisciplinary tours with trainee doctors in particular.  We participate actively in a number of interuniversity certificates (epilepsy, neuromuscular diseases, paediatric neurology).   Several doctors and paramedics teach and supervise doctoral theses in several faculties.  Scientific publications Lien vers Array Frontoparietal 18F-FDG-PET hypo-metabolism in Lennox-Gastaut syndrome: Further evidence highlighting the key network. Balfroid T, Warren AEL, Dalic LJ, Aeby A, Berlangieri SU, Archer JS.Epilepsy Res. 2023 May;192:107131. doi: 10.1016/j.eplepsyres.2023.107131. Epub 2023 Mar 30.PMID: 37054522 Lien vers Array Cognitive, perceptual, and motor profiles of school-aged children with developmental coordination disorder. Van Dyck D, Baijot S, Aeby A, De Tiège X, Deconinck N.Front Psychol. 2022 Aug 3;13:860766. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.860766. eCollection 2022.PMID: 35992485  Lien vers Array Risdiplam in Type 1 Spinal Muscular Atrophy. Baranello G, Darras BT, Day JW, Deconinck N, Klein A, Masson R, Mercuri E, Rose K, El-Khairi M, Gerber M, Gorni K, Khwaja O, Kletzl H, Scalco RS, Seabrook T, Fontoura P, Servais L; FIREFISH Working Group.N Engl J Med. 2021 Mar 11;384(10):915-923. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa2009965. Epub 2021 Feb 24.PMID: 33626251 Clinical Trial. Lien vers Array  A qualitative awake EEG score for the diagnosis of continuous spike and waves during sleep (CSWS) syndrome in self-limited focal epilepsy (SFE): A case-control study. Aeby A, Santalucia R, Van Hecke A, Nebbioso A, Vermeiren J, Deconinck N, De Tiège X, Van Bogaert P.Seizure. 2021 Jan;84:34-39. doi: 10.1016/j.seizure.2020.11.008. Epub 2020 Nov 17.PMID: 33276197 

Our role Image The H.U.B’s Department of Neuropsychology and Speech Therapy is staffed by neuropsychologists, speech therapists, psychologists ad neurolinguists from the Erasmus Hospital, the Jules Bordet Institute and the Queen Fabiola Children’s University Hospital (HUDERF). The department assesses babies, children, adolescents and adults with neuropsychological and speech disorders and provides rehabilitation/readaptation in the case of deficiencies. Our staff work in various medical units to assist patients with problems in diverse areas, including: attention, language, memory, reasoning, deglutition perception, speech and voice. The department consists of three sectors: baby-child-adolescent cognition, adult-elderly person cognition; deglutition-voice-speech.    Our specialities Our activities in hospitalisation are of two kinds:  assessment or evaluation of difficulties and rehabilitation/readaptation in the case of speech and neuropsychological deficiencies following a lesion (injury, trauma), a brain dysfunction or a neurodevelopmental disorder.  Our staff are present in neurology, physical medicine and readaptation, neuropaediatrics, geriatrics, child psychiatry, E.N.T. and neurosurgery, etc  Outpatients are seen for their neuropsychological or speech disorders at the Geriatric Day Hospital, the Outpatient Centre for Neurological Functional Readaptation for Adults (C.R.F.N.A.), the Centre for Neurological Functional Readaptation for Children  (C.R.F.N.I.) or at the Learning, Growing and Becoming Centre. The neuropsychologist treats cognitive, behavioural and emotional aspects. He or she informs the patient and those close to the patient of the link between cognitive and behavioural dysfunctions as evaluated and present or future consequences for daily and professional life. The neuropsychologist takes into account the psycho-affective, social and environmental context so as to arrive at the best possible understanding of the importance of incapacities and handicaps and proposes individualised treatment indications.      The speech therapist carries out assessments and re-education in the case of language (language development, dyslexia, aphasias), voice (dysphonia) and deglutition (dysphagia) disorders  as well as facial muscle (paresis, paralysis) problems in brain-damaged patients or patients presenting neurological and neurodevelopmental pathologies.   Our team Image Our specialists Research The H.U.B’s Department of Neuropsychology and Speech Therapy encourages the development of research activity as well as cooperation with faculty structures of the ULB and VUB. The department  also participates in national and international research projects. Several of its members pursue research related to neuropsychology and speech therapy and publish in international journals.    Image Teaching Several members of the department teach at the university or training college. Every year many students undertake a clinical internship at the department as part of their studies in neuropsychology or speech therapy.     Publications COVCOG: Immediate and long-term cognitive improvement after cognitive versus emotion management psychoeducation programs - a randomized trial in covid patients with neuropsychological difficulties. Authors : Willems S, Didone V, Cabello Fernandez C, Delrue G, Slama H, Fery P, Goin J, Della Libera C, COVCOG Group, Collette FJournal: BMC Neurology, 2023  15 January 2024 Acoustic Analysis of Voluntary Coughs, Throat Clearings, and Induced Reflexive Coughs in a Healthy Population Authors : Mootassim-Billah S, Schoentgen J, De Bodt M, Roper N, Digonnet A, Le Tensorer M, Van Nuffelen G, Van Gestel DJournal: Dysphagia, 2021 15 January 2024 Unraveling the Cognitive-Motor Interaction in Individuals With Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment Authors : Gaillardin F, Bier JC, De Breucker S, Baudry SJournal: J Neurol Phys Ther, 2022 15 January 2024 Resting-state functional brain connectivity is related to subsequent procedural learning skills in school-aged children Authors : Van Dyck D, Deconinck N, Aeby A, Baijot S, Coquelet N, Trotta N, Rovai A, Goldman S, Urbain C, Wens V, De Tiège X.Journal: Neuroimage, 2021

Our role Interventional neuroradiology (INR) is a radiological subspeciality. INR diagnoses and treats diseases of the brain, the spinal cord and the head with access via blood vessels (endovascular route) or through direct puncture (percutaneously).  INR specialists work closely with neurologists from the Stroke Unit where their adult patients are hospitalised.    Image  "At present, we are the only fully fledged department of this kind in Belgium. Our high degree of expertise attracts patients from throughout Belgium and beyond." Our specialities The Erasmus Hospital's INR Department is active across 3 pathologies or clinics:Malformation pathologies such as brain aneurysms, arteriovenous malformations and fistulas, etc.  Thromboembolic pathologies such as ischemic stroke (caused by a blood clot), chronic subdural hematoma, cervical or intracranial artery stenosis, etc. Within the INR Neonatal and Paediatric Clinic that treats newborns showing a malformation pathology (see Focus), in cooperation with the HUDERF.  There are several INR approaches and methods. The most frequent are: Angiography that consists of introducing a catheter via the wrist artery or the femoral vein (endovascular route) into which a contrast agent is injected and a series of X-rays are then taken. The images thereby obtained make it possible to map the blood vessels and identify anomalies. Embolisation, a procedure by which a small catheter is introduced  endovascularly or percutaneously. This makes it possible to gain access to the brain damage or spinal cord and to provide treatment without recourse to more major surgery. Mechanical thrombectomy that consists of "unblocking" blood vessels by "suctioning out" the blood clot via a catheter. It is one of the treatments for an ischemic stroke. Our team Image our specialists Focus The Erasmus Hospital is home to one of the few Interventional Neuroradiology Neonatal and Paediatric Clinics in the world. Vein of Galen aneurysmal malformation is the pathology most frequently treated. This is an abnormal communication between certain arteries and the vein of Galen. These malformations can cause serious cardiac problems   in utero or at birth and subsequently a risk of haemorrhages and brain developmental problems. If operated on in time, most babies can survive and develop normally.  Publications Endovascular treatment of intracranial vascular malformations in children. Auteurs : Lubicz B, Christiaens F.Journal : Dev Med Child Neurol 2020;62: 1124-1130 16 August 2023 Firs-pass Effect Predicts Clinical Outcome and Infarct Growth after Thrombectomy for DMVO Auteurs : Farouki Y, et alJournal : Neurosurgery 2022 16 August 2023 WEB device for EVT of wide-necked bifurcation aneurysms. Auteurs : Lubicz B, Mine B, Collignon L, Brisbois D, Duckwiler G, Strother CJournal : Am J of Neuroradiol AJNR 2013;34: 1209-1214 Flow-diverter stent for endovascular treatment of intracranial aneurysms: a prospective study in 29 patients with 34 aneurysms. Auteurs : Lubicz B, Collignon L, Raphaeli G, Pruvo JP, Bruneau M, De Witte O, Leclerc XJournal : Stroke 2010;41: 2247-53 16 August 2023

On the occasion of the inauguration of the new road and reception infrastructures for Emergencies,  Adeline Higuet, Head of Department, presents her vision of the department, the renovation project and the next stages in the works. In the Emergency Department renovation project, the architecture makes the function and the function is supported by the architecture in the sense that the configuration of the infrastructures is adapted to the way emergency medicine is to be practiced.  Central to this approach is the “Moving Forward” concept that is used by the most modern Emergency Services.The “Moving Forward” concept places the patient at the centre of a continuous flow.  The  patient consequently progresses through dedicated care zones in which the hospital architecture and the duo of  emergency nurse and doctor both play a role in ensuring an attentive and fluid global care from admission through to discharge. This approach permits a more rapid care and treatment for emergency patients. Our aim is of course to be as efficient as possible while remaining person-centred and attentive to the needs and circumstances of the individual patientWithin this concept, the first care zone consists of the reception area and waiting room for adults and for paediatric emergencies. The central zone is occupied by 3 triage areas that are essential to the mechanisms of the “Moving Forward” concept.  “We have also developed a specificity for the medical triage (triage 3) with the creation of what we call an “Ultra Ultra Short” triage that is for managing “non-urgent” emergencies that can be quickly dealt with and do not require the patient to enter the care zone  reserved for more serious cases. This zone has a dedicated waiting room.”  It is these three areas, as well as a rest room to ensure the well-being of staff, that occupy the new Emergency Department space that is scheduled to open in May.  The rest of the renovation concerns the present Emergency Department that is currently being “updated” including structural modifications to enable us to work per care zone. Specifically:  Triage zone 4, dedicated to (minor) medical pathologies that do not require hospitalisation.Treatment zones 1, 2 and 3 where patients are sorted depending on the seriousness of their condition and importance of receiving treatment.The most urgent (i.e. serious) cases are directed to the shock lab.“We also have a new integrated Surveillance Unit  (SU) that equips the Emergency Department with 6 to 8 provisional hospitalisation beds.”  The SU is designed for:Patients who need to be kept under surveillance for 3 to 6 hours before returning home (in the case of a concussion, for example, or pain management);Patients who need to be kept under surveillance for 12 to 24 hours before returning home;Patients who have to be hospitalised while waiting for a bed to become free in the department to which they will be subsequently transferred.Respect for the patient remains throughout, starting with patient reception and extending to consideration for accompanying family members. Trauma care is a well defined zone for treating surgical and orthopaedic pathologies.  Its strategic location next to emergency radiology also ensures better care. The SU and trauma care (yellow and pink zones respectively) were renovated in 2024.  The next stages in this project The next stages in this project are the most complex with the renovation of the isolation room and psychiatry consulting rooms, renovation of the medical examination rooms and of the entire medico-nursing work space. This phase of the works is more complex as it will be carried out without interrupting activity and thus in zones where patients are present.  Fortunately we have the support of the Department of Infrastructures (DIHJ) that will manage this phase by playing musical chairs with the areas where patients are present and those where they are not. Our aim is to complete all the works by the end of this year.  “The changes we are making at the Emergency Department are inspired by values of respect, caring, and listening to the patient and care teams. The patient is at the centre of all we do.”  In terms of functioning, we are fortunate in having emergency nurses and doctors of the highest quality.  “We are in the process of creating a model that is unique in Belgium, a multidisciplinary emergency team consisting of accident and emergency doctors as well as internal specialists (who watch out for rarer pathologies: you find what you look for), anaesthetists, surgeons and senior paediatricians. It is this panel of cumulated skills that makes our department so effective in-patient care while at the same time functioning as a teaching class for trainee doctors. Another specificity of our department is that, from the moment of arrival, the patient is followed up by a doctor-nurse duo, this clearly improving the quality of care, a fact that has been proved scientifically. *”With these changes we want to create a more fluid, positive, human and caring patient experience. Our mission is based on three essential notions:“Care”, meaning caring for the patient with respect;“Cure”, meaning treating the patient;“Counsel”, which is based on our obligation to ensure the patient’s medical follow-up.“No patient leaves us without understanding what is wrong with them. All follow-up appointments are made before discharge. All the information, all the documents and all the prescriptions the patient needs are provided systematically.”  Special attention is paid to bilingualism at our department. There are still a lot of things to be put into place, of course, but we are doing everything possible with the nurses, doctors and SAMU and SMUR ambulance drivers to ensure optimal care and treatment.*Source : The impact of senior doctor assessment at triage on emergency department performance measures: systematic review and meta-analysis of comparative studies, Maysam Ali Abdulwahid 1, Andrew Booth 1, Maxine Kuczawski 1, Suzanne M Mason 1 , Emerg Med J, 2016 Jul;33(7):504-13.doi: 10.1136/emermed-2014-204388. Epub 2015 Jul 16. Dr. Adeline HIGUETHead of the Emergency Departement of the H.U.B

A measure applied from 1 August From 1 August, certain stages of breast cancer treatment will be reimbursed only if the treatment was carried out in approved breast clinics, including the Erasmus Hospital and the Jules Bordet Institute. This decision was taken following a study carried out by the Federal Centre for Expertise in Health Care (KCE), which revealed that women treated in a non-accredited clinic were 30% more likely to die of breast cancer than patients treated in an accredited clinic.Find out more in the RTBF report.

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