A Brain Surgery You May Have Never Heard of
In 1935, a Famous Neurologist Named Antonio Egas Moniz invented a brain surgery called Loboctomy.
Loboctomy is also called Frontal Loboctomy, it is a surgical procedure that was once used as a treatment for Mental health disorders in the 20th century. However, it is now considered an outdated and controversial practice due to its significant risks and long-term negative effects on patients.
History
Antonio Egas Moniz and Walter Freeman invented this surgery. They believed that by disconnecting or removing certain parts of the brain’s frontal lobes, they could eliminate symptoms of mental illness.
They thought this was the best procedure for those suffering from Depression, Anxiety, Melancholy, Grief, Panic Attacks, and Bipolar disorder.
Procedure
The procedure consists of drilling holes into the patient’s skull and then using a sharp instrument, such as an ice pick, to sever or damage the connections in the brain's frontal lobes. In some cases, the entire frontal lobe was removed.
The Frontal lobe Caries Various Functions of the body such as Emotional behavior, Personality Changes, Motor and Coordination Problems, Speech production, and Working memory
Uses of this Procedure
Lobotomy was initially used to treat a range of psychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and severe depression. It was also used for patients with behavioral issues or aggression.
Controversy
Frontal lobotomies were highly controversial. Critics argued that the procedure was often performed without adequate consent, and the long-term consequences for patients were often severe, including personality changes, cognitive deficits, and emotional blunting.
Famous Cases
One of the most famous cases of frontal lobotomy was that of Rosemary Kennedy, sister of President John F. Kennedy. She underwent a lobotomy in 1941, which left her permanently disabled.
Fall Of Lobotomies
Frontal lobotomies began to decline in the 1950s and 1960s due to the development of more effective and less risky treatments for mental illness, such as psychiatric medications and psychotherapy. Lobotomy can have long-term negative effects on patients, such as personality changes, cognitive impairments, emotional blunting, loss of initiative, and motor & coordination problems.
That's it for today. Thank you for reading
