Surgery offers relief at last
REGIONAL Australia’s first deep brain stimulation surgery has been performed on a patient in Townsville.
Former electrician Rob Jorgensen from the Burdekin was diagnosed with Parkinson’s 15 years ago and recently received the DBS surgery at the Mater Private Hospital Townsville.
A team of neurosurgeons, neurologists, anaesthetists, and scientists led by neurologist Dr Craig Costello used an intricate procedure to safely insert electrodes in Mr Jorgensen’s brain to help relieve debilitating symptoms from his disease.
Mr Jorgensen, 63, said he had been forced to retire and was left with no option to treat his condition, apart from taking medication eight times day.
He wished the DBS procedure had been available to him locally sooner.
“The surgery has really helped me,” he said. “I used to have involuntary movement in my arms and legs and my friends have noticed an improvement in my speech. I’m on a lot less medication too.”
DBS works through electrical stimulation that regulates the abnormal signals that cause tremors and other symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. Many patients experience an instant result from the procedure.
Former cane farmer Mark Pernase, 66, had DBS to control severe tremors in his right hand, impacting his ability to perform simple daily tasks like hold a cup of tea. “I didn’t have much to
look forward to and now that has changed,” the Innisfail man said.
“I am essentially tremor free and it happened almost instantly after the surgery.
“Now I can think about having a future.”
Mr Pernase was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2014 and was initially apprehensive about having DBS. However, his wife Eileen said her husband was now “back to normal” since having the procedure.
Dr Costello said DBS was “life-changing” for people with Parkinson’s disease, essential tremor or dystonia, and offering the procedure locally was a triumph for the people of North Queensland.
“Having evidence-based care available locally removes a large geographical barrier to better disease management for people living in this region,” Dr Costello said.
“DBS has two main advantages compared to pharmacological therapy. DBS is always on, unlike medication which can wear off, and DBS can deliver therapy differently to each side of the body which is vital in Parkinson’s.”