'I Got My Life Back': Kolkata Patients Share Deep Brain Stimulation Success as Medanta Expands Neurological Care in Eastern India Medanta Hospital, Gurugram, Improves Access to State-of-the-art Treatments for Neurological Disorders with Monthly OPD in Kolkata Kolkata, 22nd November 2024: India has one of the world’s highest total burden of Parkinson’s Disease with a substantial number of patients experiencing onset of motor symptoms in their prime working years, yet not many know the promise of Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS). This cutting-edge neurostimulation procedure, offered at Medanta Gurugram by Dr Anirban Deep Banerjee, is helping hundreds of patients with advanced neurological disorders like Kolkata resident Mr Kajal Baran Majumdar, who returned to independent living from the brink of becoming disabled. Medanta, one of India’s leading super-speciality hospitals ranked as the Best Private Hospital in India by Newsweek, is an internationally known destination for DBS Therapy, offering comprehensive treatment that combines cutting-edge technology with personalised care. Dr. Anirban Deep Banerjee, Director-Neurosurgery at the Institute of Neurosciences, Medanta Gurugram, stated, “Neurological conditions are now one of the leading causes of disability worldwide, with the global burden of illness and disability rising substantially over last few decades. In India, they account for about 10% of the total disease burden. While we have recognised, effective, advanced treatments like DBS to help transform lives, as in the case of Mr Majumdar, access remains a significant challenge. This is especially so in low- and middle-income countries. At Medanta, we are committed to improving access to state-of-the-art interventions like Deep Brain Stimulation and helping patients regain quality of life when medicines and other conventional treatments can no longer manage symptoms. DBS or Brain Pacemaker Surgery is a transformative therapy wherein electrodes are implanted in specific affected areas of the brain to regulate abnormal signals, restoring motor function, and greatly enhancing quality of life. It is known to bring relief to advanced-stage symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease, dystonia, epilepsy (adult onset), essential tremor, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).” Mr Majumdar agrees. A retired bank official with a family history of Parkinson’s Disease, Mr Kajal Baran Majumdar started experiencing motor symptoms when he was just 50 years old. “My father had this disorder. So, I knew that I might also get it,” he said, adding that while he somehow managed to not let it affect his work, the disease rapidly robbed him of all the simple joys of a retired life. Sharing his experience of DBS-led management of Parkinson’s Disease, Mr Majumdar said, “I love to walk everywhere. But advancing Parkinson’s Disease left my spine bent and I was about to become completely immobile. Then I remembered how Deep Brain Stimulation treatment at Medanta Gurugram had changed the life of my friend and colleague Mr Ashok Kumar Sen. After Dr Anirban Deep Banerjee did my surgery, my symptoms improved within a few weeks. Now, with quarterly tuning of the brain pacemaker by Dr Banerjee, my symptoms are under control. I am able to sign papers, enjoy long walks, and family holidays.” With Deep Brain Stimulation at Medanta Gurugram, Mr Ashok Kumar Sen overcame progressively worsening symptoms of cervical dystonia (adult onset) that had left his neck almost permanently and painfully twisted at 90-degrees to the left for a decade. “At 50, when my hands started shaking and my neck would jerk uncontrollably, I started wondering if this was what retirement had in store for me: dependency on family, pain and loss of dignity. After years of botox therapy and increasing medicines, I met Dr Anirban Deep Banerjee, and the rest, like they say, is history,” said Mr Sen. After surgery, his head position has returned to near normal, and the pain has subsided completely. Mr. Sen is now medication-free and leading a healthier life, with symptoms well-managed through periodic tuning of brain signals done by Dr Anirban Deep Banerjee at Medanta’s monthly neurosurgery OPD in Kolkata. In line with its vision to make world-class quality care accessible, Medanta has been organising monthly OPDs in Kolkata to offer patients easy access to its acclaimed super-specialist doctors and coordinated care between the city and its flagship DBS centre in Medanta, Gurugram. The hospital also offers a range of advanced patient-centred services in Kolkata, including comprehensive pre-DBS assessment, and integration within a super-specialty healthcare ecosystem. Medanta has established itself as one of the leaders in DBS therapy. The hospital employs advanced imaging techniques for precise brain targeting and utilizes state-of-the-art innovations, such as directional leads for multi-dimensional neuromodulation and real-time brain-sensing biomarker feedback for symptom-responsive stimulation. Medanta’s DBS programme also includes patient/condition-specific advanced AI-guided brain area targeting and remote programming capabilities that are especially valuable for outstation patients, like those from Kolkata, who benefit from continuous care without the need for frequent travel. Dr Anirban Deep Banerjee has performed well over 200 DBS procedures over the past decade with remarkable success rates reinforcing the reputation as one of the most trusted neurosurgeons for DBS in this part of the world. Medanta multi-superspecialty OPD now available in Kolkata at RB Diagnostic Lake Town and Eastern Diagnostics Alipore. For more information, please call 7003550232.