[Stereotactic microelectrode-guided posteroventral pallidotomy for Parkinson's disease].
OBJECTIVE
To assess postoperative effects of microelectrode-guided posteroventral pallidotomy (PVP) for Parkinson's disease.


METHODS
Intraoperative microelectrode recordings and microstimulation were used to explore the globus pallidus to performance of posteroventral pallidotomy in 48 patients with Parkinson's disease (47 unilateral and 1 bilateral). Assessment was made at baseline preoperatively and at 6 months intervals postoperatively, with unified Parkinson's disease rating scale (UPDRS).


RESULTS
All patients were significantly improved on the limbs contralateral to the lesion side 6 - 34 months after operation (mean 24 months). The improvement was seen in the 'on' or 'off' state: UPDRS scores with patients on levodopa were improved by an average of 28.7%, while off medication scores showed reductions (47.6%) at 24 months. There were no deaths and no visual complications, but there were 4 patients (8.3%) of a delayed contralateral limbs dystonia after pallidotomy.


CONCLUSIONS
The techniques of microelectrode recording and microstimulation indicate the location of the internal capsule and optic tract, which allow easy identification of these structure and facilitate PVP target in conjunction with radiofrequency microelectrode stimulation.
Huang
Yong-an
YA
Department of Neurosurgery, Air Force General Hospital, Beijing 100036, China.
Yin
Zhen
Z
Zhang
Bao-guo
BG
Cheng
Gang-ge
GG
Wu
Chen
C
Ma
Hong-wei
HW
Xiao
Cheng-zhi
CZ
Wang
Xue-kai
XK
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005917:Globus Pallidus / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008839:Microelectrodes; D008875:Middle Aged; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000601:surgery*; D013238:Stereotaxic Techniques; D016896:Treatment Outcome