Watch Live Brain Surgery On The Today Show
This morning I watched an inspiring and deceptively simplified video of brain surgery broadcast live via the Today Show.
The patient is 81 year old Ben Colbert who suffers from Essential Tremor, a progressive neurological condition which can cause trembling in the hands, head or legs.
Simply keeping his food on a plate became a task he could not complete, so he underwent neurosurgery on the left part of his brain which stopped the trembling in his right hand.
While regaining control of his dominant hand enabled him to return to tasks such as writing checks, Ben quickly realized he needed both hands to be steady in order to truly return to his normal life. He talked of typing on the computer, playing the piano and hugging his baby granddaughter.
You can watch the video below where you’ll see Ben undergo deep brain stimulation while remaining awake throughout the surgery.
It’s impressive, especially towards the end when Dr. Nancy Snyderman suggests that the procedure will be used to help those suffering from Parkinson’s Disease – and in the future perhaps Depression and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.
What do you think?
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Posted: February 3, 2010
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