The procedure makes the patient more responsive to the medication and allows some patients to reduce their medication. Some of the symptoms require the patient, like Ed Hounsell, to have the surgery on both sides of the brain. After careful evaluation, Iacono may do both sides in one procedure or each side in separate operations. Postero-ventral pallidotomy is funded by most insurance companies and is covered by Medicare. If a pallidotomy patient is asked to name his most important benefit from the surgery, he will probably mention his release from one of the physical problems.
Some patients have a near-total disconnect.
But a reversal is quite possible after the pallidotomy, apparently resulting from a more plentiful blood supply to the brain. The frontal lobes are the seat of personality and conscience, insight, foresight, judgment, attention span, and the ability to concentrate. They probably provide the closest physical connection to spirituality. Go to table of contents .