“Deep Brain Stimulation” operation starts in Pakistan:Prof Anjum Habib Vohra

Lahore: Principal Post Graduate Medical Institute Prof. Anjum Habib Vohra has said that two “Deep Brain Stimulation” (DBS) operations, first time in Pakistan have been carried out successfully at Lahore General Hospital which has opened door for the patients of Parkinson and muscular stress to rid the disease. A patient named Shakeel Ahmed, resident of Sheikhupura, underwent DBS operation for which funds were provided by the Chief Minister Punjab, Shahbaz Sharif. Young Professor of Surgery Dr. Khalid Mahmood of LGH who has attained special training from USA and Britain for this kind of surgery conducted these DBS operations. He said that Punjab Government had provided a grand of Rs.50 million for the purchase of equipment.

Prof. Vohra revealed these details while addressing a press conference along with Prof. Dr. Khalid Mahmood here today. He said that Dr. Khalid Mahmood would now be available to check such patients at LGH and hence they would not have to go abroad for treatment of Parkinson and muscular pain. He said that although this treatment is very expensive in Pakistan as it costs Rs. 20 lac however this cost is only 20 % of expenses at foreign countries. He told that the operation takes almost 6 to 9 hours. Stretch stress

Prof. Vohra and Prof. Khalid Mahmood told that symptoms of Parkinson are trebling of legs, arms and hands and patients feel stress in their legs also. If the disease is intensified, it becomes difficult for patients to keep their head still. Hence such patients become dependent for the rest of their life. Prof. Khalid Mahmood while explaining details of process of DBS operation said that very delicate electrodes connected with a battery are installed in small holes drilled in both sides of the head of a patient. The battery is placed under the skin at the chest of the patient which works like a pacemaker for the heart patients.

Principal PGMI said that having modern equipments and latest medical and diagnostic facilities, LGH receives patients for surgery from all over the country and about 5 thousands operations of head injury and neurology are conducted here annually. He said that LGH is going to become state of the art hospital of the region after completion of Institute of Neuro Sciences in near future. The Institute would provide more opportunities of research and training to young doctors and treatment facilities would be available under one roof at a large scale for patients of all age groups.