May 18, 2008 Kennedy's ability to carry out Senate duties Play video

(Brian Burnell, NECN: Bloomfield, CT) - Neurologist Dr. Michael Krinsky is counsel to and past president of the Hartford, Connecticut county medical association. As he has watched the coverage of Massachusetts senator Edward Kennedy's 2 seizures on Saturday he can't say for certain what happened. but he has an idea.

Dr. Michael Krinsky, neurologist: "I think that the initial considerations or the concerns were that he looked as if he had a stroke which sometimes happens after a seizure. there's a period following the seizure in which the neurological examination looks very much like a stroke and then it rapidly clears usually within a few hours to a day."

Senator Kennedy's doctors have said he did not have a stroke and Dr. Krinsky is certain they ran tests at mass. general hospital immediately that determined there was little or no damage to Kennedy's brain. But if it wasn't a stroke what was it? tests will be done this week to determine that. They will be looking for anything that could have contributed to his condition.

Dr. Michael Krinsky, neurologist: "drugs that he might have been taking for underlying disorders can sometimes they can be implicated. And occasionally there can also be other problems such as those related to heart rhythms."

In October the senator had surgery to remove a blockage in his left carotid artery. Dr. Krinsky says they will look at that as well.

Dr. Michael krinsky, neurologist: "Its possible that the arterial

narrowing that was cleared last fall could be related. for instance sometimes even after they're cleared there can be a repeated narrowing of the blood vessel or something flew off the area where the surgery had been done causing irritation of the brain and an acute event like a seizure."

The obvious question that comes to mind. Will Senator Kennedy be able to carry on his duties as a US senator? now, Dr. Krinsky can't do a prognosis without examining the senator... looking at the test results. but he says from what he sees from afar he suspects the senator will carry on.

Dr. Michael Krinsky, neurologist: "whatever damage if there was any is very small and in all likelihood he will just pick up and continue to go forward from here. but its going to depend in large part on what the determined cause is and he may require additional medications."

In Bloomfield, Connecticut, Brian Burnell, NECN.