WHEN a retired military veteran underwent deep brain stimulation (DBS) surgery to combat tremors as a result of his Parkinson’s disease, he was understandably nervous.

Yet, Greg Grindley was still willing to make history by having his operation broadcast around the world in 171 countries and 45 languages as part of National Geographic’s latest show Brain Surgery Live.

Lead neurosurgeon Dr Jonathan Miller performed the operation on Mr Grindley before a camera crew inside the University Hospital’s Case Medical Centre in Cleveland, Ohio.

It was 2004 when Mr Grindley first noticed symptoms of early onset Parkinson’s disease and five years later he had tremors in both of his hands, facial contortions, rigidity, balance and speech issues, and loss of mobility.

Despite his debilitating symptoms becoming too much to handle, the 49-year-old was hesitant to go under the knife.

“I was very reluctant to have the surgery at first and I fully admit that I was scared. I have to say the idea of someone poking around in my brain is not on the top of my list of things to do,” he said.

“It was through the encouragement of my loving family and my doctors that I made the difficult decision to have the DBS surgery.”

The operation was an elective procedure in which neurosurgeons surgically implanted a battery-operated medical device, called a neurostimulator, into the patient’s brain.

When successfully implanted, the device delivers electrical stimulation to targeted areas in the brain that control movement, blocking the abnormal nerve signals responsible for symptoms.

DBS surgery is performed while the patient is fully awake so surgeons can communicate with them and do neurological tests along the way.

Brain Surgery Live - Patient Greg Grindley talks to doctors Doctors talk to patient Greg Grindley following his procedure on 'Brain Surgery Live'. Courtesy: National Geographic Channel

During the broadcast mid-surgery, Dr Miller said the operating team was easily able to determine the precise location to install the neurostimulator.

“Mr Grindley has the distinction of having a relatively normal brain and inside of the brain looks like it’s supposed to,” he said during broadcast.

After explaining the ease of the operation, Dr Miller turned his attention to Mr Grindley to determine how he was feeling at the point in time.

“[I feel] fine. It’s great to hear I have a normal brain,” he laughed.

In the final stages of the operation, Mr Grindley’s right hand can be seen shaking furiously as he attempts to recite the months of the year in reverse order as per the surgeons’ request.

Then, when doctors activate the electrode they implanted in his brain, the tremor in his right hand stops immediately and Mr Grindley stares at it with disbelief.

“Wow … I never expected this at all,” he said.

To prove the authenticity of the results, Mr Grindley was handed an iPad and sent a message to his wife — a task he had been unable to do for the past decade.

Following the surgery, Dr Miller said he was grateful for being able to help Mr Grindley and his family

“It’s great seeing the effect tonight, but it will be even greater to see the benefit he will receive from this ten years from now,” he said.

“The surgery set the stage for the brain to heal itself. The brain has the ability to do so many amazing things.”