Anyone who wants to learn the latest news about possibly the most effective treatment for Parkinson’s disease is welcome to attend a meeting at St. Rose Ambulatory & Surgery Center.
The Parkinson’s Support Group will meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 7 in the basement-level St. Dominic Room; the meeting is free and open to the public.
The topic during the interactive television (ITV) event will be deep brain stimulation, referred to as DBS.
“This is a great opportunity to learn about DBS treatment and the exciting advances in DBS surgery,” said Amy Maxe, representative of the neurological services department at Littleton Adventist Hospital in Littleton, Co. “It is a chance to connect with the neurosurgeon who performs DBS at Littleton and to take a look inside the operating room where the procedure is performed.”
Littleton Adventist Hospital is a sister facility of St. Rose; both are affiliates of Centura Health. The hospital is one of only a few centers in the country to offer Asleep DBS.
Maxe noted there is a window of opportunity for Parkinson’s patients to undergo DBS surgery.
“If they miss an opportunity to learn about DBS, treatment could be delayed,“ she said. “Ultimately, this could result in missing the opportunity to meet the surgical criteria. Recent research shows Parkinson’s patients who receive DBS live longer than those who do not.
“As a Centura Health affiliate,” Maxe added, “we appreciate St. Rose going above and beyond to bring this presentation to town. This effort helps support our mission of extending the healing ministry of Christ.”
David VanSickle, M.D., PhD, will participate in the ITV presentation at St. Rose. Dr. VanSickle earned his medical degree from the University of Pittsburgh and completed a six-year neurosurgery residency at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center.
“While DBS treats many aspects of Parkinson’s disease, the primary benefits are reduced tremor, rigidity and medication dosage, as well as improved facial expression and voluntary movement,” Dr. VanSickle said. “It has been proven to be more effective than treatment with medication alone.
“Most patients see immediate benefits from DBS,” he continued. “It is not a cure but the benefits are in the quality and quantity of life it affords patients. DBS allows patients to return to normal activities and maintain their independence.”
Dr. VanSickle has authored and co-authored many peer-reviewed journal articles and has given multiple presentations.
Centura Health connects individuals and families across western Kansas and Colorado with more than 6,000 physicians, 15 hospitals, seven senior-living communities, physician practices and clinics, and home-care and hospice services.