For people with Parkinson’s, drugs sometimes aren't enough to
control tremors and rigid movements, but a change in surgery is opening new
doors for some of the patients with the progressive disease. Michael
J. Fox, Billy Graham, and the late Muhammad Ali are all well-known public
figures who have raised public awareness about Parkinson’s disease.
The
progressive movement disorder has no cure, but over the last few years, one new
option has made surgery possible for a growing number of patients.
Five
years ago Tony Spitzer was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.
"It
was a tremor. Pretty much the way Michael J. Fox also started. I think he had
it in his pinky," said Tony.
His
disease progressed, and medication couldn’t stop the tremors. Finally, Tony’s
doctor agreed with him that deep brain stimulation, or DBS, would be his next
step. With DBS, doctors insert wires to stimulate the portion of the brain
impacted by Parkinson’s.
The
wires are connected to a battery pack, like a pacemaker. Traditionally,
patients had to be awake during the surgery so doctors could ensure they were
in the precise spot, and for some, being awake was a deal-breaker.
"I
mean I just think … scary as all hell!" said Glenda Spitzer, Tony's wife.
However
now, neurosurgeons have another option. Using MRI guidance, they can insert the
electrodes in real time while the patient is under anesthesia.
"If
there’s any changes in the brain structure, if there’s a little bit of shift in
the brain during surgery these are things we actively see," said Dr.
Hooman Azmi, a neurosurgeon at the New Jersey Brain and Spine Center.
Soon
after Tony’s surgery, both he and his wife noticed the difference.
"It
is amazing. I could see him," said Glenda. "Tony would be tremoring, and
then stop."
"It’s
controllable. And it makes me feel 100 percent better," said Tony.
Doctor
Azmi says the MRI guided procedure is a good option for patients who are too
anxious to be awake during the procedure, those who cannot have their
medication withheld, and those who would have trouble communicating during
surgery.
MRI
GUIDED PARKINSON’S SURGERY
REPORT
#2337
BACKGROUND:
Parkinson’s disease is a slowly progressing neurodegenerative brain disorder.
Many people live with this disease for years as their symptoms slowly progress.
This happens when the brain is not producing enough dopamine. Dopamine is a
chemical that sends signals between an area of the brain, called the substantia
nigra, and other parts of the brain. These signals control movements of the
human body. There are neurons in the human brain that usually produce dopamine.
These neurons concentrate in the substantia nigra. When 60 to 80 percent of the
cells that produce dopamine are damaged and the brain is not producing enough
dopamine the signs of Parkinson’s disease begin to appear. With this disease,
the person loses the ability to control their movements, body and emotions.
Although the disease itself is not fatal, complications from Parkinson’s are.
Complications from this disease is rated the 14th top cause of death in the
United States by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
(Source:
http://www.parkinson.org/understanding-parkinsons/what-is-parkinsons)
TREATMENT:
With a milder form of Parkinson’s, patients can be prescribed medications to
control their symptoms. Possible medications include carbidopa-levodopa (the
most effective), carbidopa-levodopa infusion, dopamine agonists, MAO-B
inhibitors, catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) inhibitors, anticholinergics,
or amantadine. If the disease progresses, deep brain stimulation, or DBS,
surgery may be the next step. DBS has three components: the lead (or electrode),
the extension and the neurostimulator (or the “battery pack”). During DBS the
surgeon will implant the electrodes into a specific part of the brain. Then a
generator, or neurostimulator, is implanted in your chest near your collarbone
and is connected to the electrodes. This generator sends electrical pulses to
your brain and hopefully reduces the symptoms from Parkinson’s. The settings
can be adjusted on the generator to suit your specific needs based on your
progression. The surgery may provide life-changing relief from symptoms, but it
does not stop the disease from progressing.
(Source:
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/parkinsons-disease/basics/treatment/con-20028488,
http://www.parkinson.org/understanding-parkinsons/treatment/surgery-treatment-options/Deep-Brain-Stimulation)
NEW
TECHNOLOGY:
Traditionally, patients had to be awake during the DBS surgery, but
now surgeons can use guidance from an MRI to insert the electrodes. In other
words, the patient may be under anesthesia during the procedure. The MRI gives
the surgeon an exact location to place the electrodes. Tony’s wife, Glenda
Spitzer said, “As soon as the pulse generator (battery) was turned on we saw a
difference.”
(Sources:
http://www.parkinson.org/understanding-parkinsons/treatment/surgery-treatment-options/Deep-Brain-Stimulation)
? For
More Information, Contact:
Mara
Quigley
mara@steveallenmedia.com
661-255-8283
Watch Video:
http://www.wndu.com/content/news/New-surgery-helps-people-with-Parkinsons-disease--391650001.html
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