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I had a problem with what was said about the surgeon's 20+ hour SEARCH for the source of the one PD patient's PD before FINALLY putting in the brian-stim device. This was described in a brief statement (so I'm aware we don't have the whole story) when relating the story of the surgeon's nearly 20 hour dystonia surgery's 'hunt 'n peck" method of locating the cause of the patient's dystonia. That seems a logical way to find an UNKNOWN source of a problem, and the cause and the source of the patient's dystonia WAS unknown. The thing that got me about the brain-stim surgery in reference to the one PD surgery performed by this neurosurgeon was that the MD "hunted" throughout the PD patient's brain, probing away for over 20 HOURS till she found the source of the patient's PD (while the patient was on the operating table!) Admittedly, I'm no expert on neurosurgery! I've only talked to a couple of Parkies who've had brain stim operations. However, from having had a pallidotomy myself, I KNOW my neurosurgeon had a VERY, VERY good idea "BEFORE* my operation where he was going to find the source of my PD. AND once the pre-surgical MRIs had been done the surgeon was able to zero in with remarkable accuracy and ZAP that PD lesion to oblivion in a matter of MOMENTS, rather than HOURS. Soooo.... last nite's program had me wondering when I heard the PD brain stim performed by the neurosurgeon in the broadcast because from what I HAVE heard and read about the PD-related brain stim surgery, indicates to ME that surgeon's are pretty darn familiar with the location of PD before going into the living brain of a patient and operating. This familiarity comes from extensive pre-op imaging... plus, I'd thought the location, if not the cause or the cure for PD is pretty well known. Having "mouse problems" today, and I'm awaiting my initial meds of the day to kick in and am kinda rambling. I'm hoping ya all can translate my scattered thoughts into something a bit more cohesive. Barb Mallut (of the rambling mind) [log in to unmask] ---------- From: Parkinson's Information Exchange on behalf of Camilla H.Flintermann Sent: Saturday, May 02, 1998 5:59 AM To: Multiple recipients of list PARKINSN Subject: Re: Nightline Nightline was about a married couple of brain surgeons--she placed an electrode in the brain of a young woman with severe dystonia--with good results immediately post-op. She is the only surgeon in the US to do this op fior dystonia, and this was onlt her 2nd time doing it! He removed an abnormal cluster of vein from the brain of a teenager, to stop her seizures--also successfully. The only mention of PD was that the woman had once done an op for pd--didn't say what, but probably similar to the one shown. The focus was on the incredibly complex lives of the couple and their family. (We always tape Nightline, and watch it over breakfast, as they have some very good programs.) >I just heard that ABC' Nightline show tonight will be on brain surgery. > >Pallidotomy? Thalomotomy? DBS? Something else? > >Haven't checked. SNIPPED Camilla Flintermann, CG for Peter 79/8 Oxford, OH [log in to unmask] * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Ask me about the CARE list for* * Parkinson's caregivers ! * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *