Watts awake during 4 hours of brain surgery
Kevin Watts was awake during brain surgery. The procedure should help him control symptoms of Parkinson's disease. ToolsBy Ellissa Harrington KVAL News and KVAL.com StaffEUGENE, Ore. -- A former coach and school counselor from Eugene who is battling Parkinson's disease went in for major surgery this week in an attempt to control the symptoms. So far, so good: more surgery is scheduled for Friday. On Monday, 59-year-old Kevin Watts underwent 4 hours of brain surgery. He was awake the entire time.
The operation is meant to help lessen symptoms caused by Parkinson's disease. "I just hope it improves the quality of his life," Jamie Congedo, one of Watts' daughters. Due to the Parkinson's disease, it's hard for Watts to control his motions. Even with a weight on his legs and sheilding around his head, he couldn't stay still enough for the first MRI. "For someone you love so much," said Laurie Watts, his daughter, "it's hard to know that they're going to have to go through all of this, but he's such a trooper."
"There's a little anxiety I think," he said, "but these people are professional and they're pioneers in the field, and I should be fine." The surgery is long. First, his head is physically attached to the table so it can't move. Doctors then drill two holes in the brain and insert electrode wires. "This is not a cure," explains Dr. Kim Burchiel. "This simply relieves symptoms." Burchiel says if all goes well, Watts' uncontrolled movements could be completely gone. But until the surgery is over, Watts is completely awake. Two hours into the surgery, doctors have placed two wires inside Watts' brain. Doctors then monitor just how Watts responds to those electrodes. Once good results are monitored, the electrodes are sealed up.
Then his family arrives, and 10 years since his diagnosis and four hours of surgery later, the first stage of a new life is about to begin. Watts returns to surgery Friday to get a pacesetter in his chest, which will help control the electrodes now in his brain. |
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The day started at 6 a.m. checked in to Oregon Health and Sciences University hospital in Portland to undergo deep brain stimulation surgery.
The second pass with the MRI, Watts gets a good result. After waiting, some prep and final moments with his family, it's time for surgery.
After almost 4 hours of surgery, Watts is done -- and a bit disoreinted.
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