Ventroposterior medial pallidotomy in patients with advanced Parkinson's disease. Comments

In a preliminary study, the effects of ventroposterior medial pallidotomy were evaluated in five patients with advanced Parkinson's disease in whom medical therapy had failed. The mean age was 67.0±5.6 years, and the mean Hoehn and Yahr stage when off was 3.9±1.3. Three patients received unilateral pallidotomies; two of these received another pallidotomy after 8 weeks. Two other patients received staged bilateral pallidotomies. No significant differences in overall funcitn could be seen before and after the first surgical procedure. All three patients with peak-dose dyskinesias or dystonia had marked contralateral reduction in these symptoms. Ventroposterior medial pallidotomy can ameliorate peak-dose dyskinesias in patients with advanced Parkinson's disease