A friend in Colorado sent us a clpipping from the Denver Rocky Mt. News
called "Progress Against Parkinson's". It is an excellent, balanced report
of the work of Dr. Rajeev Kumar in doing subthalamic stimulation. He is
said to be "am expert in surgical solutions to complex movement disorders
such as PD. He came to the Movement Disorders Center at Colo. Neuro. Inst.
in August, and is said to have "more experience than any dr. in No.America
in subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation".
Results of Kumar's research at Toronto Hospital at the U. of Toronto on 9
patients were reported in the Sept. issur of Neurology. On Oct.8, a "French
medical team released similar results with 24 patients in the New England
J. of Med. "
The article describes the procedure in detail, and also describes PD very
accurately. Kumar states that this procedure is useful for more than
tremor. The implanted device costs $10,000 to $12,000., and most patients
require implants on both sides. Total cost of the surgery can be $50,000 to
$75,000, and insurance plans generally don't cover it.
Another example of progress, and of the high cost of living well!
Camilla Flintermann, CG for Peter 80/9+
Oxford, Ohio
http://www.newcountry.nu/pd/members/camilla/one.htm
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