Anne - Our neurologist and our neurosurgeon at the University of Kansas
Medical Center say they prefer not to do bilateral pallidotomies because of
potential speech and possibly memory problems. They believe the answer,
after one pallidotomy, is to perform a thalamic stimulation (if tremor is the
problem) or a pallidal stimulation on the other side. (The pallidal
stimulation is being performed experimentally and is awaiting FDA approval
for unrestricted use). My husband had experimental bilateral pallidal
stimulations, and even he had some speech and memory problems that lasted for
about 6 months. At this time, the memory problems seem to be gone, and his
speech is much improved.
This isn't very encouraging for your friend, I know. Would your friend
be more comfortable holding off and getting another opinion? If that's at
all possible, it would probably be well worthwhile. Pallidotomy is
definitely permanent, and there's no reversing the procedure if it produces
deficits of one kind or another.
You might try contacting Dr. William Koller at the U. of Ks. Medical
Center (neurologist and Parkinson's specialist) at 913-588-6985 if there
isn't anyone else in your friend's area to contact. Good luck. Margie
Swindler
