 |
 |
Charlie: I work at a Neurosciences Institute that performs both surgeries. As of 8/96, they had performed 95 microelectrode-guided radio-frequency pallidotomies on 71 patients and 22 microelectrode-guided radio-frequency thalamotomies on 18 patients. None of these patients had adverse effects from the surgery. We tell all patients prior to surgery that the risks (of incorrect lesion placement) include vision loss and/or weakness on one side of the body. Patients are warned about (and many do experience) short-term impairment of speech and/or balance due to brain swelling after surgery. This can last from days to weeks. I hope this is helpful. Carole Hilton >---------- >From: Charles T. Barasch[SMTP:[log in to unmask]] >Sent: Thursday, October 03, 1996 8:24AM >To: Multiple recipients of list PARKINSN >Subject: surgery side-effects > >I've been on this list for several years as someone with Parkinson's, >but I'm writing this note as a student. I'm taking a neuroscience >class and would appreciate any information -- whether anecdotal or >research-based -- about the side-effects of pallidotomy and thalamotomy. >I'm especially interested in visual side-effects. > >Thanks, >Charlie Barasch >