Parkinson’s treatment: Implant installed in brain here

Doctors successfully implanted a device inside the brain of a patient with Parkinson's disease.

A team of specialists, led by Indian surgeon Anirban Deep Banarjee, conducted the operation at the National Institute of Neurosciences and Hospital (NINSH) yesterday.

Contacted, Prof MS Jahirul Hoque Chowdhury, head of the movement disorder unit at NINSH's clinical neurology department, said, "We have successfully implanted the device inside the patient's brain.

"The patient is in good condition now. We have planned two more surgeries tomorrow [today]."

Prof Jahirul also said that each deep brain stimulation (DBS) surgery costs as much as Tk 30 lakh.

"The treatment is only for patients who do not respond to medications. We're offering the surgery free of cost at this point," he said.

According to the medical professional, this surgical intervention is needed mostly for patients aged 60 and above.

In 2017, Bangladesh-born UK surgeon Tipu Aziz successfully implanted devices inside two patients' brains using the same technique at the same hospital.

According to NINSH authorities, they have been preparing for more similar surgeries in the future.

According to www.mayoclinic.org, DBS is an established treatment for people with movement disorders, such as essential tremors, Parkinson's disease and dystonia, and psychiatric conditions such as obsessive-compulsive disorder.

This involves implanting electrodes within certain areas of the brain. These electrodes produce electrical impulses that can affect certain cells and chemicals within the brain.

The NINSH authorities said they have been training up their surgeons to run a full-fledged surgery unit at the hospital.