Denied surgery in US,patient finally gets solace in city hospital

The patient,Mohammad Walji,earlier depended completely on his wife for every little activity like getting off the bed. For the past few months,he had been suffering from excruciating body pain and severe motor fluctuations.

His family had approached several doctors in the United States but was denied medical aid because of his age— surgery is not offered to those over 65 years in the US. “His condition had deteriorated a lot over the last year but we did not want to give up. A centre even suggested that he should be put in a shelter,” said Siddika Jafra,Walji’s daughter from Orlando.

“The patient was suffering from Advanced Parkinson’s Disease for the last 10 years. Despite taking large doses of medicine,he could independently function for only a few hours. Rest of the day,he used to spend in bed or in an incapacitated manner. Surgical treatment was the only way out,although his age was a matter of concern,” said Dr Paresh Doshi,a neurosurgeon at Jaslok Hospital.

Walji underwent bilateral subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation surgery at the Jaslok Hospital a fortnight ago. His surgery was completed in three hours as performing it for more hours could lead to post-operative complications. According to Doshi,the surgery uses electric current to jam irregular brain signals. “We implant a battery-operated neurotransmitter attached to a pacemaker-like wire with an electrode at the tip,” said Doshi. “This wire is inserted under the skin and placed through a small hole in the skull. The same wire is used to deliver electrical impulses in the brain.”

“I have got my appetite back,” said Walji. “Last week he could not get up on his own but managed to have breakfast. He has gradually regained motor skills. He is now back to normal,” said Jafra.

Dr Doshi,however,admits that there is a risk while operating elderly patients. “Risk of brain hemorrhage is slightly higher in them during surgery.”