Pallidotomy is a procedure where a tiny electrical probe is
placed in the globus pallidus (one of the basal ganglia of the
brain), which is then heated to 80 degrees celsius for 60 s, to
destroy a small area of brain cells. Pallidotomy is used to
treat dyskinesias in patients with Parkinson's disease.
Stereotactic pallidotomy was pioneered by Dr. Hirotaro
Narabayashi. In a pallidotomy, the surgeon destroys a tiny part
of the globus pallidus by creating a scar. This reduces the
brain activity in that area, which may help relieve movement
symptoms such as tremor and stiffness (rigidity). Before
surgery, detailed brain scans using MRI are done to identify the
precise location for treatment. The person is awake during the
surgery, but the scalp area where instruments are inserted is
numbed with a local anesthetic. The surgeon inserts a hollow
probe through a small hole drilled in the skull to the target
location. An extremely cold substance, liquid nitrogen, is
circulated inside the probe. The cold probe destroys