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Date sent: Tue, 24 Dec 2002 04:40:03 EST Send reply to: Parkinson's Information Exchange Network <[log in to unmask]> From: Jeannie Leroux <[log in to unmask]> Subject: Re: Palladomy To: [log in to unmask] > My husband's neurologist said he thought they have done all they could > with medication, and it might soon be time for an inplant surgery. He > is not doing well at all. A divice similar to a pacemaker would be > put into his chest and a wire into the part of the brain. Is this > what is called a palladomy. Can someone help me find more information > about this? Pallidotomy is an operation which destroys a part of the portion of the brain that mediates movements. It has some benefits in selected cases, but often the results are short-term (a few years). It was very popular in the sixties, then lost favor, then "came back" in the nineties; but has, once again, started to drop out of favor. The "state-of-the-art" in surgical treatment of Parkinson's disease is now DBS (deep brain stimulation) which is what seems to have been mentioned to you. It is the best thing available these days for those cases where surgical treatment becomes necessary. It should be done only at a center where they are experienced in such. Pallidotomy, once done, usually makes it impossible for a patient to have DBS (because the destructive aspect of the pallidotomy changes the anatomy). Best, Bob Robert A. Fink, M. D., F.A.C.S., P. C. Neurological Surgery 2500 Milvia Street Suite 222 Berkeley, CA 94704-2636 USA 510-849-2555 FAX: 510-849-2557 <http://www.rafink.com/> "Ex Tristitia Virtus" Disclaimer: That which is written in my e-mail is not to be considered as "medical advice". Such advice can only be given after a formal, in-person, consultation between doctor and patient. ********************************************** ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn