Deep Brain Stimulation Surgery

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 oatient 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 what are more safe surgery for PD patient i,e less complicate and self maintance. 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? Could lead them good qaulity life after the surgery as it does not cure PD?
TEOKIMHOE

Dear 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 < name="15102">Dr. OkunJoined: 19 Jan 2007Posts: 251Location: University of Florida
Posted: Thu Jun 12, 2008 8:04 pm Post subject:

This is a great post, thanks. A few things to clarify from my point of view. There is no hard and fast rule about how many years you need to have PD before surgery. Greater than 5 is a good idea to avoid levodopa responsive PD look-a-like syndromes. There are people who have on-off fluctuations and other serious issues that cannot be managed effectively with meds---these are potential candidates but they need multidisciplinary screening by a neurologist (on/off UPDRS), a neurosurgeon, a neuropsychologist, and in some cases a psychiatrist. After screening only a percentage will be eligible for surgery and only levodopa responsive symptoms will be helped by STN or GPi DBS. The surgery also does not in general get people back to work, or keep them at work. Perhaps in the future we will learn how to pick patients who surgery may accomplish this feat; but at this time it does not guarantee that hope. It is great there is money for those who need the surgery!_________________Michael S. Okun, M.D.