DBS success or Not in BC Canada --Rosebud??
 

Rosebud - you are much more connected than I in the local hierarchy but I think you should elaborate on the following or was it simply "off the cuff".

As far as I know we have only one surgeon doing DBS in the lower mainland and cannot believe he is here and operating at a 10% success rate.

thanks ,,, ken

let me chime in here. Andre Lozano is one of the bestt in the world att DBS. HHe is in Toronto. I know of three people who had a DBS in Vancouver and it was successful. We have two members of my group who rate their surgeries as "9"s on the 1 to 10 scale, they were both done at Vancouver GEneral by Nuerosurgeon Chris Honey.


I too, find it hard to believe, that a 10% success rate would even be tolerated by the "powers that be".

Charlie

Chris Honey is the only one I know of who is doing DBS operations in Vancouver. I know they had a 4 part article/series in one of the Vancouver newspapers on a fairly young women involved in the media herself. It told her story and the decision she made to have the surgery done. I never read the last part but heard that the operation was not considered successful. With so much news coverage it stood out.

I agree a 10% success rate would/should never be tolerated.

Bonnie

success is a relative term
 

Yes I do know a lot of people in the PD world locally...including Marg Meikle who was the subject of the article covered by the media in 4 parts. The last of which was buried with little fanfare in the middle of the paper somewhere.

I know Marg and she is incredible in many ways...but she is not untypical of dbs surgery locally. Over the ten years I have facilitated groups (4 of those with Murray Charters)...I have seen many more misses than hits. The one in ten comment was not off the cuff, It was a stat given to a friend of mine by his neuro with a word of caution... (Not all the Neuros in BC are good buddies) I have more stories but sufficient to say those who can afford it do go to Toronto. Those who are not so fortunate or financially blessed they take their chances here. I believe Dr. Honey gets funding for 25 DBS operations per year (socialized medical..I hope your paying attention). so he gets 3 genuinely successful, another 5-7 in the moderatly improved range, and another 4-5 not quite right, but getting by and the balance disappear from view. It looks like Marg will be one of the ones in the last group. This breaks my heart because she was bright and beautiful and I thought she had other options if she would work at them. I tried to talk her out of it. Not hard enough apparantly.

I know more,but I cannot speak as they are not my "insights" to share, simply ones others have entrusted me with. Yes, we have the loud proponents of DBS and the reason you do not hear from the rest is because they are out of sight and out of mind in many cases. I am not anybody special in the big picture, so you can make what you like of my comment. But from where I'm sitting it looks pretty much as stated.

Question: Who is the "they" that would not tolerate a 1in 10 ratio??? Just my opinion, not everyone agrees. If anyone wants to search the Marg Meikle story out look up the Vancouver Sun Newspaper.. the writer was Maurice Bridge the third article appeared Sat May 26 2007

IS it possible to get an appt with Andre Lozano and have the surgery done in Toronto??

The above is what Hillary CLinton wants for us. I hope everyone keeps that in mind when they vote.

I am surprised that they let Dr. Honey do DBS's with such a dismal record!!!

I would wonder what his stated success rate is. I can guarantee you it is more than 10%. THANKS for this info Rosebud



Charlie

Charlie...
 

Yes it's possible to go to Toronto, and some do. There are at least two surgeons that do DBS and those who have dealt with them say they are wonderful...but its very expensive.

Obama is presenting a two tier system of health care which also has it's pitfalls.

Honey is the only one doing dbs in BC...nobody to compare with. I'm told he does a lot of repositioning operations....not looking good...

Success is relative..especially if you are the top of the pile and the pile isn't very high...

He probably doesn't stay here for benevolent reasons. The cream are in the States.

Thanks RB, Scary, scary, scary. I am not nearly as informed as you, living in small towns in BC most my working life but what I did hear and saw following DBS surgery scared the hell out of me. It is good to hear about the success many others have had. Murray Charters was a friend, I still think of him sometimes; he gave so much to the pd community. He intoduced me to the 'Vicster' (Vicky Gabereau) sp? at one Superwalk; I'm a fan.

scary