The first deep brain stimulation (DBS) surgery in regional Australia has been successfully performed on patients with Parkinson’s disease at Mater Private Hospital Townsville.
Former electrician, Rob Jorgensen, of the Burdekin region, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease 15 years ago and recently became the first patient to have DBS surgery at the Mater in Townsville.
Led by Mater neurologist, Dr Craig Costello, the intricate procedure involved a team of neurosurgeons, neurologists, anaesthetists, and scientists to safely insert electrodes in Mr Jorgensen’s brain to help relieve debilitating symptoms of his Parkinson’s 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 a day, and 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.”
Former cane farmer, Mark Pernase, 66, of Innisfail, 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,” Mr Pernase said.
“I am essentially tremor free and it happened almost instantly after the surgery.
“Now I can think about having a future.”
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 works through electrical stimulation that regulates the abnormal signals which cause tremors and other symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. Many patients experience an instant result from the procedure.
“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 because it is an asymmetrical disease,” Dr Costello said.
Dr Costello trained with leading specialists Professor Matt McDonald and Professor Rob Wilcox in Adelaide and Melbourne for two years to bring the game-changing service to North Queensland residents.
Mater Private Hospital Townsville Executive Officer Libbie Linley said thousands of North Queenslanders stood to benefit from the training Dr Costello has received.
“There’s about 3000 people in North Queensland with Parkinson’s disease,” Ms Linley said.
“To have access to DBS right here means patients no longer need to travel to Brisbane or interstate for the procedure, and they can feel confident of receiving the highest possible standard of care in Townsville.”
Mr Pernase was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2014 and was initially apprehensive about having DBS.
However, his wife Eileen describes her husband as being ‘back to normal’ since having the procedure.
“He’s back to the man he was before he was diagnosed,” she said.
