New Delhi: A 55-year-old govt official from Nepal suffering from advanced Parkinson’s disease has undergone deep brain stimulation (DBS) surgery at Dr Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) Hospital, becoming the first patient to receive the procedure at the hospital.
Doctors said the treatment could cost Rs 25 lakh to Rs 30 lakh at private centres, while the expense at RML Hospital was nominal.
Hospital officials said she had earlier been receiving treatment at a private hospital but found the cost of the procedure prohibitive. “Deep brain stimulation is generally considered for patients whose Parkinson’s symptoms are not adequately controlled by medication,” he said. “Even a deviation of one millimetre can make a difference to the outcome,” Pandey said, explaining that the team maps the target and calculates the coordinates, angles and trajectory for electrode placement before surgery.
The patient initially presented to the neurology department with a movement disorder. The team worked with radiology specialists for the imaging required for surgical planning, while anaesthesia specialists supported the procedure. The choice of target depends on the patient’s condition. In Parkinson’s disease, electrodes may be placed in structures such as the subthalamic nucleus (STN) or globus pallidus. The procedure requires detailed MRI and CT imaging, specialised planning software and precise targeting of deep-seated brain structures.