No longer afraid of Parkinson's disease, the first deep brain electrode implantation surgery in northwest Anhui was successfully carried out

Cao Juan (pseudonym) is 58 years old
Suffering from Parkinson's disease for more than 8 years
In the past two years, I have taken medicine but it has not worked.
The side effects are getting worse
Normal walking is in small steps
The expression is stiff and the smile is gone
Like a rusty robot...

On the morning of November 5th, in the neurosurgery ward of Anhui Medical University's Fuyang Hospital, Cao Juan finally stopped the tremor that had plagued her for years and was able to walk like a normal person. The reason for her recovery was the first deep brain stem (DBS) surgery in northwest Anhui province, performed by the hospital's neurosurgery team.

I've been suffering from Parkinson's disease for 8 years and can't maintain medication.

Cao Juan is from Funan County, Fuyang City.

Eight years ago, her family gradually noticed signs of health problems. They described Cao Juan as feeling like a rusted robot during an attack, her joints and muscles stiff and her movements extremely slow. Seeking treatment, Cao Juan traveled extensively to Fuyang, Hefei, and other cities. She was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease and maintained on medication. Initially, the medication was effective, but over time, the duration of Cao Juan's medication treatment shortened significantly, and her limb tremors and stiffness worsened, severely impacting her quality of life.

"I felt okay in the first few years of taking the medicine, but in the past two years, the medicine has no effect at all! The side effects are getting worse and worse!" Cao Juan said. She usually takes four doses of medicine a day. Even if the dosage is increased to the maximum, the effect can only last for two hours at most, and obvious dyskinesia symptoms will appear. After the effect of the medicine wears off, my body is out of control again.

Brain electrodes implanted to help patients get rid of tremors

In October this year, Cao Juan came to Fuyang Hospital Affiliated to Anhui Medical University.

After a series of examinations and evaluations, Wang Shaohua, director of neurosurgery, determined that Cao Juan was fully qualified for deep brain stem surgery (DBS).

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is a minimally invasive surgery that involves implanting a thin biological electrode into a specific nucleus in the patient's brain. A pulse transmitter, commonly known as a battery, is then installed under the clavicle. The electrode and battery are then connected together to stimulate certain specific neural nuclei deep in the brain through an electrical pulse generator, thereby correcting abnormal brain electrical circuits and alleviating related neurological symptoms, thereby achieving the goal of improving the symptoms of Parkinson's patients.

On October 31, under local anesthesia followed by general anesthesia, the neurosurgery team successfully performed the first deep brain stem surgery (DBS) on Cao Juan in northwest Anhui. The debugging signal during the operation was extremely strong and the effect was satisfactory.

A week later, Cao Juan tested the device. As engineers fine-tuned the efficacy of different electrodes and parameters, her trembling limbs immediately stopped, her stiff body gradually softened, and her gait improved significantly. She could swing her arms freely and lift her legs with the same range of motion as a normal person. This scene amazed Cao Juan's family and the hospitalized patients present.

Wang Shaohua, director of the Fuyang Hospital affiliated to Anhui Medical University, said, "The stimulation location and stimulation parameters of the 'brain pacemaker' can be adjusted according to the patient's condition to achieve the ideal treatment effect."

"Shaking, slow, and stiff"

Tell you the real Parkinson's

According to Director Wang Shaohua, Parkinson's disease is caused by a rapid degeneration of the substantia nigra in the brain, resulting in an inability to produce the neurotransmitter dopamine. This results in varying degrees of limitation in the brain's ability to direct muscle activity, significantly hindering patients' mobility. Parkinson's disease has become a common neurological disease among middle-aged and elderly people, ranking third among the leading causes of death among them after cancer and cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. Symptoms primarily include tremors, stiffness, and bradykinesia. Most patients also experience some degree of non-motor symptoms such as anxiety, depression, and insomnia.

"If you notice someone around you experiencing tremors in their hands and feet, stiffness, or slow movements, you can bet they have Parkinson's disease," Director Wang Shaohua said. If these symptoms occur, it's recommended to seek medical advice and treatment as soon as possible.

In the early stages of Parkinson's disease, medication is generally effective, a period known as the "honeymoon period," which lasts approximately three to five years. However, after this "honeymoon period," even increasing the medication dosage becomes less effective, and side effects and complications gradually become apparent.

In this case, surgical treatment should be considered as soon as possible. Deep brain stimulation (DBS) surgery is currently the most advanced neuromodulation technology in the world. More than 100,000 Parkinson's patients worldwide have undergone this surgical treatment. Of course, DBS surgery also requires strict screening and comprehensive evaluation before surgery.

——Article reprinted from Anhui Medical University Fuyang Hospital