Dear Mr Teo Brain surgery (Deep Brain Stimulation) is an effective treatment for Parkinson's patients. It does not cure PD, but the quality of life of Parkinson's patients is improved, as well as the symptoms (slowness of movement, tremor) and dyskinesia. The benefit of DBS has been observed to last up to seven to ten years after surgery. Yes, DBS is a hot topic nowadays because its discovery has been one of the most dramatic advances in medicine. Timing of surgery is an important issue. DBS is generally indicated for patients who are in the advanced stage of illness (i.e. beyond 10 to 15 years of illness), when the quality of life is significantly impaired despite maximal medications. However, for the relatively young Parkinson's patients (age < 50) who are still working, DBS may be carried out at an earlier stage of illness (i.e. less than ten years of illness). This is because for these young patients, one of the main objective of DBS is to help maintain their careers. Realizing that DBS is an essential treatment for PD, we have set up the Lloyd Tan Trust Fund (Lloyd Tan was the founding father of the Malaysian Parkinson's Disease Association, who passed away in 2007) in May 2008, which helps to provide financial assistance for patients opting for DBS. Dr Chew Nee Kong, Kuala Lumpur.
Dear Dr.Chew,
Brain surgery in Parkinson's is stranger for everbody,'
It is frighten. It becomes a hot topic in the brain surgery world. It is a new surgery for PD patient to slowdown the PD from its progression as the PD medication are not helpful for them.
Besides Brain surgery there are deep simulation and brain cell transplatation.
Kindly elaborate
How long for a PD patient to live after doing the surgery?
At what age and stage of PD are suitable for the Brain Surgery?
How would lead them a good quality life after the surgery as it does not cure PD?
TEOKIMHOE
Posted: Sun Jun 08, 2008 11:12 am Post subject:
We have a complete forum on surgery at www.parkinson.org- called ask the surgical team. We update new surgeries on the What's Hot column. There is a free book from NPF at www.parkinson.org on DBS. DBS is the approved therapy but it is only for a minority of well selected and well screened patients performed at experienced centers. Duodopa is a dopamine pump, spheramine is a transplantation therapy and there are a few viral gene therapies, and other experimental surgeries being done...for research only!_________________Michael S. Okun, M.D
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