Pallidotomy: a surgical intervention for control of Parkinson's disease

Parkinson's disease, a chronic incurable disorder, has a significant impact on quality of life. Parkinson's disease results from chronic degeneration of cells in the basal ganglia that produce dopamine. It typically affects elderly individuals producing muscle rigidity and akinesia. Traditionally, Parkinson's disease has been controlled by medications. However, for some patients, medications may no longer be effective, or may produce drug-related complications. For this group of patients, pallidotomy is gaining support as an intervention to control the debilitating symptoms of Parkinson's disease, thus enabling a person to perform everyday tasks. Although the procedure was developed in the 1950s, contemporary technology has allowed a resurgence of the intervention. With the focus on relief of two of the major symptoms of Parkinson's disease, the pallidotomy procedure is gaining support as a surgical intervention for this disease. Therefore, it is important for the health care team to have an understanding of the disease process, surgical intervention and postoperative care to enhance quality outcomes for this patient population.