The public Conde de São Januário Hospital Centre has successfully carried out Macau’s first Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) surgical procedure for a local Parkinson’s disease patient recently, the Health Bureau (SSM) said in a statement yesterday.
The patient has recovered after the procedure and can eat on his or her own, said the statement, which did not disclose the patient’s gender and age.
Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) is one of the treatment options for Parkinson’s disease, which is an electrical stimulation - also known as the brain’s “pacemaker”, the statement said, adding that its principle is similar to that of the heart pacemaker. In DBS treatment, electrodes are placed deep in the brain and wired to a host embedded in the chest just below the collarbone. The host sends electrical impulses that stimulate specific parts of the brain to decrease the symptoms of tremor, stiffness, and slowness caused by Parkinson’s disease, the statement said.
DBS treatment will be offered to those who meet the criteria after being assessed by the bureau, which will provide follow-up care.
The statement stressed that DBS treatment cannot completely cure Parkinson’s disease, but it can reduce the amount of drugs the patients need to take, adding that the patients’ life quality can be improved after the procedure, and their symptoms will be reduced.
The statement noted that a number of specialist medical staff were sent by the Health Bureau to receive special training at Prince of Wales Hospital in Hong Kong, including preoperative assessment, operation and postoperative rehabilitation nursing.
Parkinson’s disease is mostly treated with levodopa drugs for dopamine supplementation, and the principle of comprehensive treatment for Parkinson’s disease includes drug treatment, surgery, rehabilitation and psychological treatment, among others, the statement noted.
However, the statement pointed out, the efficacy of the drug treatment diminishes with the duration of the treatment, and side effects may be caused. If the treatment fails to control the condition, patients who meet the surgical indications may be considered for DBS surgical treatment after assessment by a team of doctors, the statement noted.
Parkinson’s disease is the second most common neurodegenerative disease after dementia, the former of which is mainly caused by the reduction of nigrostriatal dopamine neurons in the brain, the statement noted.
At present, there is no cure or way to stop the progression of Parkinson’s disease, but patients in the early stages respond well to drug treatment, the statement said, adding that there are more than 1,300 Parkinson’s patients undergoing treatment in Macau, the statement said, adding that the bureau has sufficient stock of drugs for their treatment.
This undated handout photo provided by the Health Bureau (SSM) yesterday shows doctors at the public Conde de São Januário Hospital Centre conducting a Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) surgical procedure on a local Parkinson’s disease patient.
